By Mukesh Sharma Doha 27 Aug : As soccer-loving citizens look on in delight, Indian and Pakistani expatriates in Dubai and Qatar are getting ready for the coveted Asia Cup cricket match between the two countries that often find themselves at odds over everything from soap operas to sports.
The two teams will play at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday with the Indian team hoping to get even with their T20 World Cup defeat at the same venue in 2021.
Fans who are excited in Gulf nations are eagerly anticipating the game because tickets to the match are being sold out in advance with people from neighbouring countries such as Qatar and Bahrain intending to travel to the glittering Emirate to witness the spectacle.
Pakistani fans are disappointed by the absence of left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi from the team following the injury to his knee was suffered in July.
Amna Pervaiz Raois a fervent fan is depressed over the fact that Afridi isn’t part of the squad.”The result of the match is uncertain.However, I would’ve really enjoyed it if our star pacer Afridi was playing,” said Doha-based Rao who is editor in the Communications Department of Qatar University.
Another Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr.was exiled of the Asia Cup due to a left side strain, reports in the media stated on Friday evening.
Sri Lankan fan Chinthana Priyankara believes that the majority of the players have never played against each other, therefore it’s going to be a challenge for both teams.”One of the two teams will definitely make it to the final.Both India and Pakistan are in the best shape, and it’s too early to know which one will win,” said Priyankara who has lived in Qatar for seven years.
Because a match between India and Pakistan is always slightly beyond cricket, we’ll be treated to a top-quality face-off, said Priyankara.”As Sri Lankan fans, we are confident in the opposite group but we’ll be keeping an eye on both teams, hoping to play one of them in the next round,” added Priyankara.
Famous Indian cricketer Virat Kohli was in Qatar’s capital city Doha earlier this week prior to arriving in Dubai to play in the tournament.
Rajesh Patwardhan, who works in the aviation industry, is determined to watch the game live in Dubai.He and a few of his friends have booked tickets to the game on Saturday and are planning to spend the day before the anticipated match “chilling out” in Dubai.”I cannot wait until Saturday, when I fly out with two of my friends.We’ll probably not be able to be sleeping through the night of Saturday, as we watch our favorite players in Dubai on Sunday.”India will certainly beat Pakistan and we’re eagerly anticipating that moment,” he said.
Tickets for the game were gone within minutes of being put up for sale Many fans were left disappointed.
“As Dubai residents, we always look forward to an event.
Even if we’re not in the stadium, we will be watching it on a huge projection screen in our the comfort of our homes with close friends and family,” said Debasish Barua who is the the head of commercial for GTS FZCO in Dubai.The excitement is high, regardless of whether one is watching in the stadium or not, said the Dubai expat who is the father of the under-19 Sharjah team.
Pakistani national Usman Shujaat Ali is willing to transcend the jingoism.He is hoping that the team that performs better will win.”When it’s Pakistan against India and cricket fever is on the rise adrenaline and excitement is at its highest.The excitement of winning on a particular day is slightly higher than other days.
I learned via the internet that Virat Kohli was in Doha.I would love to see an opportunity to meet and greet his supporters” said the avid fan of the match.
The top business development director who is with an important private company in Doha would like to return early from work on Sunday morning to catch the game on television.
Abilash Nalappat Abilash Nalappat, an Indian national who works in the field of sports in Qatar is looking forward to the match.”I remember watching India-Pakistan white ball games from my childhood with family and friends.A good portion of these memories stem taken from the CBFS series in Sharjah under the supervision of Mr.Bukhatir.In one match in the month of April of 1985, we managed to defend the score of 125 and then bowled out Pakistan for less than 90 runs,” said Nalappat.
“I am hoping that India can overcome the poor performance in the ICC T20 World Cup last year against Pakistan in Dubai and we will witness a team that have won every game between these two arch-rivals in the past 10 years,” Nalappat said.
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