ICC World Cup 2019 | Dhoni has been providing me tickets of India Pakistan match since 2011, reveals Pakistan fan

While a majority of the fans have been hustling for months to get a ticket to the India-Pakistan clash, which is set to be played at Old Trafford on Sunday, Mohammad Bashir has absolutely no worries of managing a ticket for himself, courtesy the former Indian skipper. Tickets for the match were sold out way in advance and they are now available second hand for a very heft fees considering the stakes that surround the match.

“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 said to PTI, reported Indian Express.

He is a resident of Chicago where he lives with his Indian wife who hails from Hyderabad and owns an eatery there, giving him the nickname ‘Chicago Chacha’ by which he is widely known. He often visits India on holidays along with his family and is a long time supporter of the Green Army. The emotions that engulf the match cannot be explained in words, and hence managing to buy a ticket to a World Cup game between the two has always proved to be a Herculean task.

“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.

Dhoni had first provided a ticket to him for the semi final clash in Mohali in 2011, probably the most intense of affairs between the two nations in modern history considering the level and the venue of the match. The wicket keeper batsman had gone out of his way to make sure Bashir was able to attend 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,” Bashir quoted.

In an interview with the Indian Express in 2016, he had described the experience of being a Pakistan fan in India as a very pleasant one. 

“India’s love for me brings me to watch cricket here. Students offer me lunch, tea shops do not take money from us and people wait with me for the team buses just to start a conversation with me. Our skipper Shahid Afridi only said the truth that they get more love here in India as compared to Pakistan. Those who got angry by this will keep crying like this all their life,” he had reportedly said.