My Passion for Pakistan
Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem. First of all thanks to Al Mighty Allah boys played well.
I'm best known in the cricket world as The Sheikh of Pakistan.
I've been supporting Pakistan cricket from a very young age. I'd like to say 4 years old as I have memories of wearing a Pakistan cricket Tshirt to Nursery. My love for Pakistan cricket started from my father who is a proud Pakistani man who not only loves his motherland he also loves the Pakistan Cricket Team. When growing up, we would listen to commentary on the radio. On occasion watch the team play on TV.
The excitement it brought my father was amazing to watch he would jump up in joy and dance when the Pak team hit a four or a six. When they bowled and took opposition wickets. I would join in his celebrations. Growing up in the 80's era of cricket the time of Imran Khan and Javid Miandad. They were the most spoke about players of that time. They were the key players that would change the course of a match.
I used to watch Pakistan team play on TV. One day in 1986 the Pak team was playing a test matchat Edgbaston against England. I really wanted to go to watch that game live at the ground. My father said he couldn't afford the ticket price and that we would watch it on TV. When the match had finished the following day Imran Khan and Javid Miandad where dining at a Pakistan restaurant on Ladypool Road, having lunch. I was playing cricket in the park with some friends. One of the local boys came running in the park screaming Imran Khan and Javid Miandad are at Imrans Restaurant Ladypool Rd. We ran straight to the restaurant. As we got there we saw Imran Khan and Javid Miandad eating. They had a few people around them. We wasn't allowed in the restaurant by the owners. So we waited patiently outside until they came out. We wasn't the only ones there lots of people heard and turned up. I was stood close to Imran Khan when he came out. I got the urge to shout out Pakistan Zindabad. And so I did thrice. I was then greeted by Imran Khan, who patted my head and said Shabash (well done).
My Journey
I stayed up to watch most of Pakistans games during the Australia 1992 World Cup. When they got to the semi finals and finals I watched the whole games despite the time difference of around 10-12 hours ahead.
Imran Khan was the victorious captain and rose to the occasion knocking England out of the world cup finals. It was worth staying up that night to watch the whole match.
From that moment I began to have the belief in the team that they are the best team in the world.
Everytime Pakistan would come to England to play l would go to the cricket ground to watch the game live.
Now fast forward to 2010. Pakistan was playing 2 T20i against Australia at Edgbaston Birmingham.
We as a whole family went to watch the first game. The 2nd game myself and my nephew went to watch. Only this time we decide to dress up in fancy dress. This was unheard of within Pakistani Fans. I got a Hulk outfit and my nephew got a ninja turtle outfit. Off we went to watch the match . We had such a laugh dressed up, we was getting people asking for photos, people chanting with us, we created a fun filled atmosphere. We decided to wonder around the stadium to drum up some support Lo and Behold I met another Pakistani fan dressed up. In my head I was thinking there's another nutter like us. We then spoke to this other chap who introduced himself as Mr Pakistan. Which befitted his outfit covered in small Pakistan flags in a white Shirwani.
We exchanged numbers. In 2011 he invited me to go with him to West Indies to watch Pakistan play. I couldn't go as I had other holiday plans at the time. Mr Pakistan in 2012 invited me to Sri Lanka I obliged to go as I felt I missed out the West Indies Tour the previous year.
I decided to change my outfit from the Hulk to the something more traditional. At that moment in my life I wanted to dress to a somewhat character that resembles being a Muslim. I rattled my brain long and hard then came up with the idea to make my own attire. The Sheikh of Pakistan was born and my 1st debut tour was in Sri Lanka T20i World Cup 2012.
After having done my first International tour in my new attire I got such a good response from fans, media, players and locals that we decided to continue with our character as we represented Pakistan team in a beautiful way that complimented the team.
Since that time, l got hooked on the idea of travelling abroad in my attire and representing Pakistan in a New Era.
That's how it all began for me. Since that time I have travelled dressed as The Sheikh of Pakistan to all major grounds in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. My international tours include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE, Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand.
We've always supported Pakistan team as best as we could. I remember myself , Mr Pakistan and 2 other friends were sat at a restaurant in 2013 discussing how we can up our game and support for our team that was preparing to play in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. I came up with the idea of having an open top bus with Pak fans to drive around the cricket stadium with fans onboard a few hours before the match starts to drum up some support for our team and a few hours after the match.
We made headlines news never in the history of cricket has any sets of fans arrived at a cricket match on an open top bus. We did it. We continued with our Open Top bus to every Pakistan match that year in 2013 and Continued to do so up until 2019 World Cup ODI.
Just before the World Cup 2019 was due to start in England and Wales. I thought about upping our efforts even more with doing something else for our team.
I was in conversation with my Mahmo in Pakistan who too is a massive Pakistan fan. Who has been proud of us all for our support for our country and team. In conversation I told him I wanted to up our game and do something special, especially as we where due to play our Biggest rivals India at Old Trafford Manchester. He came up with the idea of me coming on a beautiful big white horse waving the flag. I loved that idea and started doing my research. Things all fell into place, the hire of the horse, the open top bus we having all fanson-board. The only other change I made. was to upgrade my outfit from the traditional green I wore to a Champagne Gold colour to really compliment the arrival on the Horse (which some would argue it was infact a Dinosaur).
The day of the big game I remember getting on the horse and was overwhelmed. I then lead our Open Top bus towards Old Trafford stadium where there was thousands of fans from both Pakistan and India waiting to make their way into the stadium. The atmosphere was like no other our parade lasted around 1 hour before we disembark to make our way to the ground. We had so much fun and joy that day. Both Pakistan and Indian fans applauded me for my entrance to the stadium which in all honesty was nice to receive.
The most memorable match for me like most Pakistanis would be the Champions Trophy Final 2017 Pakistan vs India the biggest rivals going head to head. I remember that match as one of the best games every. As a fan I couldn't have scripted that match any different or even better. The build up for Pakistan losing their 1st encounter to India then going on to winning every match reaching the finals was a fairy tale story. Knocking India over in the finals was such a great feeling it was as though we was celebrating 3 Eids that year. What was surprising for us was the whole cricket world including cricket legends all favoured India to win. What was more pleasing as a Pakistan cricket fan was the manner in which we beat India and broke the long silence, the banter we faced everytime we played them. That match silenced the critics and launched Pakistan onto a platform where the world recognised Pakistan as a team on their day will defeat any given opponents.
What started of a being a normal Pakistan Fan over the years has transpired into becoming a Pakistan SuperFan.
My most favourite hero of all times is Imran Khan. I grew up watching him and fell in love with the game. Other players like Javid Miandad, Inzamam ul Haq, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis Khan, Misbah ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam the list can go on with great players Pakistan has produced
As a Pak fan I've always believed With great responsibilities comes great rewards. We Pakistan Fans have been on a roller coaster journey supporting our team. In tough times and good time in sad times in bad times. Never have I ever lost that feeling of loving and supporting my team. We have a saying our team players represent Pakistan in the ground we represent Pakistan in the stands. Together we are the best team in the world.
Long live Pakistan our support for Pakistan may we continue our journeys and creating new memories. In sha Allah. Ameen
