At a time when fans from both India and Pakistan have faced dire consequences for showing their love for players from the opposite country, a Pakistani fan has set an example that is garnering praise from all the quarters. During the ongoing Test between Australia and Pakistan at the MCG, a fan was spotted wearing Pakistan cricket team’s ODI jersey with Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s name and jersey number (7) on the back.
A spectator wearing a Pakistani cricket jersey during the ongoing Boxing Day Test match at the MCG! ?#AusvPak
pic @CricFit pic.twitter.com/B6315fflZa— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 28, 2016
Quite expectedly, the gesture won the fans over and they took to social media to appreciate it. Here are some of the best reactions:
it's love for cricket.tats stupendous.Those who loves the Game will enjoy good cricket be it from opponent
— #BeingJaved (@jafa4ulv) December 28, 2016
As a sports lover I loved this picture n want to see more such pictures. Hope we'll see test cricket between Pak n IND soon.@mohanstatsman
— KhaN AghA (@Khanaghaa) December 28, 2016
Dhoni is more loved in Pakistan, I m one of his millions fan. I watch Indian cricket only because of Dhoni.
— Glorious Past (@PastGlorious) December 28, 2016
The incident will act as a fresh breath of air for fans of both countries who have witnessed tensions escalating between the arch rivals due to political reasons. Furthermore, a couple of incidents happened in the recent past that will compel fans to think at least twice before showing their love for any player from the other nation.
Just around a week ago, an Indian fan was arrested in Assam for wearing a shirt bearing former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi’s name. Previously, a Virat Kohli fan hailing from Pakistan was arrested was sentenced to 10 years in prison for hoisting the Indian flag on the roof of his house. He was later granted bail.