Cricket superfan Ajaz Beg calls himself the Sheikh of Pakistan. On the sleeves of his outfit, he has badges commemorating the major international trophies his country has won, starting with the 1992 World Cup. There is one spot left.
“This empty space here on my cuff is for this game,” Beg said, pointing to the spare spot at the base of his left sleeve. “I’ve got full faith we will win and I’ll be sticking a new badge tomorrow.”
Ajaz Beg, in the cream outfit, is among thousands of fans who have come from overseas to watch the T20 World Cup.Credit:The Age
Beg is among thousands of diehard supporters who have travelled from overseas for the T20 World Cup, which, weather permitting, reaches its climax at the MCG on Sunday. They have provided the colour, noise and passion in an event where support for the home nation has been underwhelming.
Rarely has the People’s Ground, as the MCG is affectionately known, hosted a crowd that heaved and rocked with every delivery, as it did in India’s thrilling last-ball win over Pakistan last month.
Sadly for many cricket fans here and abroad, there will be no sequel to that memorable night in the final, but with some 87,000 tickets sold there should still be a bumper crowd to see England and Pakistan square off.
The weather outlook is bleak, with showers and a possible storm forecast, but there is optimism the rain will have cleared for the 7pm start. If play is washed out on Sunday and the reserve day Monday, both teams will be declared joint winners.
The final is a rematch of the 1992 World Cup decider, in which Pakistan captain-turned-prime-minister Imran Khan led his team of “cornered tigers”, as he described them, from near oblivion to the pinnacle of the international game.
Beg, studying at college in the UK at the time, remembers jumping for joy watching the game on TV. Not even the playful threat from his teacher could dull his spirit.
“Our teacher said ‘you guys are going to fail your course this year’,” Beg said.
Donning a tailor-made green jacket sporting the designs of the various Pakistan team shirts, Haider Ilyas has come from London to hopefully see Pakistan captain Babar Azam lift the trophy. Born and raised in the UK, Ilyas, whose family roots are in Azad Kashmir, landed in Australia just after the team’s loss to Zimbabwe.
Elimination beckoned but, as they did 30 years ago, the cricket gods smiled on Pakistan. Back then, the point they scrounged from a washout after being dismissed for 74 ensured they advanced to the semis. This time, they needed a monumental upset by the Netherlands over South Africa to progress.
“It was written in the stars,” Ilyas said. “Things are just meant to be sometimes.”
Their support does not go unnoticed by their heroes. “They give us confidence,” Babar said.
No major cricket game involving England is complete without the Barmy Army. Led by co-founder Dave Peacock, the game’s most recognised supporter group will again be in force as England aim to add this year’s T20 crown to the 50-over World Cup they “won” in the tied 2019 final.
Their song list includes a ditty honouring their captain to the tune of Queen’s Radio Ga Ga: “All we need is Super Jos Buttler.”
A veteran of seven Ashes series in Australia as a fan, Peacock is accustomed to seeing his team lose on these shores. After Australia’s early elimination, he will leave the MCG with a smile regardless of the result.
“We’ve won already, haven’t we?” he joked.
