Pak vs Bangladesh: A Joyful Encounter for Bangladesh Fans

Pak vs Bangladesh: A Celebration Like No Other

Mohammad Ismail and his family are sat in the Imran Khan enclosure, west of the Pavilion building at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. They are wearing Bangladesh jerseys and caps, with their umbrellas pulled down in the extreme heat. You could however see their smiles from underneath. There is a row of fans sitting with Bangladesh flags in their hands. There are more in the other stands, but interestingly not all of them are in the hands of Bangladeshis.

Ismail works in the Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad. He is sitting with warrant officer Sarwar Uddin. They are among a handful of families who live in Islamabad and traveled to Rawalpindi for this game. Many work in the high commission, while some are posted here on private jobs. Presently, they are enjoying the Mushfiqur Rahim-Mehidy Hasan Miraz 196-run partnership for the seventh wicket. As soon as we settle down, Mushfiqur paddle sweeps Salman Ali Agha for his 17th boundary.

Cheers for Both Teams

A big cheer goes up in the stands, which is surprising because the rest of those sitting in this enclosure are Pakistanis. It is a genuine cheer. It is not in jest. When Mushfiqur reached his eleventh Test century, there was a huge cheer around the ground. It is a sign of a decent crowd that cheers for both sides and that has surprised Ismail and Sarwar.