India and Pakistan cricket fans descended on New York in their thousands on Sunday for a highly anticipated T20 World Cup clash. The event brought a flavor of the sub-continent to the unfamiliar terrain of the United States, turning the temporary Nassau County Cricket Stadium in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, Long Island, into a vibrant sea of cricket enthusiasts.
The stadium, with its 34,000-seat capacity, was a complete sell-out, drawing fans from near and far. The USA, co-hosting the T20 World Cup with the West Indies, also saw matches held in Lauderhill, South Florida, and Dallas. However, this fixture, pitting the two arch-rivals against each other, was the marquee game of the group stage, resonating well beyond the realm of cricket.
Political tensions and security concerns mean that India and Pakistan rarely face off outside of major international competitions. However, among the fans, there was no hint of such issues. They were in a festive mood despite the rain, which caused a delay to the start of the match.
For the Indian community in the USA, the tournament provided a rare opportunity to see their cricketing heroes live rather than on internet streams. Kumar Mathuria from New York expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s in our backyard, so there is nothing like it. This is the first time we have had the chance to experience cricket, which is the national sport for both India and Pakistan. We are lucky to have this amazing ground built just for this event.”
Mathuria also noted the diverse origins of the fans, saying, “There are lots of cricket fans in this area, but I have also met people who have flown in from India and other places overseas for this game. It’s unbelievable.”
The streets around the venue were bustling with activity. Traders sold jerseys of both teams, while Pakistan fans waved their national flag from the tops of SUVs. Eswar Malik, a Pakistan supporter who flew in from St. Louis, compared the rivalry to well-known American sports rivalries, saying, “It’s an old rivalry, like the Yankees-Red Sox or St. Louis and Chicago, an old rivalry that goes on and on.”
This match was the fifth game held at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium but by far the most high-profile, being the only one to sell out the stadium. The demand for tickets was evident in the long lines for security and the confusion around the parking areas. Secondary market tickets were available on various apps, but last-minute buyers had to be prepared to spend over $1,500 for a general admission ticket.
Inside the stadium, the only reminder that the game was being played in New York was the signage. The music and pre-game buildup were clearly designed for the fans of India and Pakistan. A massive cheer erupted when former Indian great Sachin Tendulkar was introduced to the crowd during the pre-game interviews.
Siddarth Kadavarthi, who drove ten hours from North Carolina to attend the game, said he couldn’t miss the chance to see Indian legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, possibly for the last time in such a high-stakes match. “They are absolute legends of Indian cricket, of the game itself, and we might never get to see them in a game like this again. So although it was a 20-hour round-trip drive, I wasn’t going to miss it,” he said.
For Mutharia, the motivation for attending was simple: “This is simply one of the biggest events in sports.”
Cricket officials are hopeful that co-hosting the tournament with the United States will help the sport capture a bigger piece of the lucrative North American market, where football, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey dominate. Sunday’s blockbuster showdown ensured that all eyes were on New York, with even West Indies hero Chris Gayle seen seeking autographs from players from both countries.
“The atmosphere at an India-Pakistan game is something very, very different,” said International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Geoff Allardice. “When you get fans of those two countries together, it’s generally a celebration.”
The festive and electric atmosphere was a testament to the passion and love for cricket shared by fans of both nations. Despite the challenges and delays, the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in New York was more than just a game; it was a celebration of culture, sport, and unity amidst diversity.
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By- Sahiba Suri