Ever since the big semi-final of the 2011 World Cup, the Karachi-born Mohammad Bashir doesn’t need to worry much about the match tickets. The former Indian skipper MS Dhoni has been arranging tickets for the Pakistan-born cricket fan.
The relationship between the two blossomed when the wicketkeeper-batsman arranged tickets for Bashir for the marquee clash in Mohali. The match between Pakistan and India has always been one of the most cherished game. People wait in line and spend their time and money just to watch the match. However, the craziness of the match at times exceed to a violent clash between the fans as well.
MS Dhoni arranges match tickets for Karachi-born fan, Mohammad Bashir
The former Indian skipper might have a busy schedule, but he hasn’t disappointed Bashir till now. After the eight years of the last big encounter between the two arch-rivals, Dhoni continues to support his fan.
Bashir has flown to Manchester all the way from Chicago without carrying a match ticket of the marquee India-Pakistan clash.
“I arrived here yesterday and saw that people are ready to pay as much as 800-900 pounds for a ticket. A return ticket from Chicago costs the same. Thanks to Dhoni, I don’t have to struggle for a match ticket,” the 63-year-old told PTI.
Bashir owns a restaurant in Chicago and is an American passport holder. Also famous as ‘Chacha Chicago’, he takes one look at the crowd spending crazy cash over the tickets and feels thankful for Dhoni. He is confident that he will enter the Trent Bridge stadium before the first ball is played. He said that Dhoni had assured him for the tickets way before he arrived for the match.
“I don’t call him as he is so busy. I keep in touch only through text messages. Long before I came here, Dhoni assured me of the ticket. He is a great human being. I can’t think of anyone else doing what he has done for me since that 2011 game in Mohali.
“Imagine I get the ticket for free when most would pay a fortune for it. I have got a surprise gift for him this time and I hope to give it to him later today,” said Bashir.
Pakistan-born fan shares room with the die-hard cricket fan Sudhir
Bashir calls himself as the symbol of peace as his dress for the match has both the teams’ symbol. His love for his team was obvious when he checked-in to Pakistan’s team hotel on Friday. He clicked selfies and shook hands with Mohammad Amir, Shoaib Malik and his wife Sania Mirza, Indian-tennis player.
Bashir shares his room with the die-hard Indian cricket fan Sudhir who is a die-hard fan of Sachin Tendulkar. The superfan Sudhir Gautam gets funding from cricketers to support the team from stands.
“I book the room and we stay together. Thanks to Allah, I am doing okay (financially) and that is the least I can do for a friend. I just gifted Sudhir a phone and it made him really happy. These are the little things in life that give you happiness,” said Bashir.
Time and again the Indian cricketers have showed the act of benevolence by helping the cricket fans. Prior to MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar came in news when he announced to help Sudhir with the passes. Now Dhoni helps the Pakistan origin Bashir who is a clear supporter of India and fan of Dhoni. However, the much awaited IND-PAK match on Sunday has dark clouds hanging over with the weather forecasters predicting it as a rainy day.