On Sunday, the world’s focus will be on India. From New Delhi to New York, people who love India and hate it will be keeping an eye on two major developments. The first, of course, will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his NDA Cabinet being sworn in for a fresh Lok Sabha term after a pitched electoral battle. That will be followed at 8pm India time by India vs Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup, a contest that always grabs eyeballs.
Indeed, the build-up has been shrill, while Pakistan being outplayed in a Super Over by the United States of America, the hosts, in Dallas has caused ripples. To say that Pakistan are the laughing stock would be easy, if you follow media and toxic social media. But it’s the 22 yards inside the Nassau County Stadium that has become the talking point. For sheer bounce, which has hurt Indian batters, the drop-in pitch has been notable. That India won against Ireland was important as, despite Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant taking blows, they stood like heavyweight boxers inside the ring. Even at practice on Friday at the Nassau Stadium nets, Rohit was hurt.
“Frankly speaking the timing of this match, 9am in New York, is lousy,” said M Gopinath from Boston, an NRI who has been a cricket fan for over five decades. “I mean, we love sport and see most of US sport in the evening or night. Yes, when India plays cricket at home in India or even the IPL, we are fine to see matches on TV considering the massive time difference. But then, a 9am start in New York is meaningless. Come on, this is poor scheduling.
“The way the hype has been created by the ICC for the India-Pakistan match has been bizarre. But what hurts us as NRIs is the pricing of the tickets. I mean, we were looking for tickets and ready to pay in hundreds of dollars. If you are going to ask me to cough up US $10,000, no chance. Firstly, these tickets are being resold and beyond reach for most people. Earning in dollars does not mean you rip the fans.”
Yes, Gopinath and his friends and family will be watching India on Sunday, both the swearing-in and the cricket match in New York. In the USA, the Asian diaspora is mixed – you have Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis. Loyalties are clear, and the NRIs always support India. To have seen an “Indian effect” in the USA win against Pakistan made them happy.
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Would Gopi have been happy if he could have got into the heavily guarded and policed stadium? “Obviously, India versus Pakistan is high-voltage, but to think this will be a one-sided match is ridiculous,” he said. “Pakistan can bounce back.”
For Raghu Nathan, an NRI in his mid-60s who has lived in Maryland, on the outskirts of Washington DC, for over 45 years, cricket and Indian sport are a passion. “Hey, this ballot to win a ticket was a joke,” he said. “My friends and I tried for it online but something’s wrong. I could not even dream of tickets for the India vs Pak match, it just was not coming up online.” Raghu will, however, travel to watch at least one match in the Nassau Stadium, even if not an India one, as he wants to sample the atmosphere.
“Having lived in the USA for so long, we have followed India and Pakistan so closely,” he said. “Yes, in the USA, the social media is not so shrill nor do TV channels make it sound like a war across the border. I have followed Kargil and all the terror attacks as well on India, including 26/11. We may have American passports, but we are supporters of India in every which way, cricket included. Of course, I want to see India beat Pakistan and win the World Cup.”
Raghu does think India are firm favourites against Pakistan, though that means nothing. “It’s ages since we won a cricket World Cup,” he said. “If good results come in the USA and the West India, brilliant. I would say, this will be really important for us NRIs in the USA. We see so much sport on TV, but for India to beat Pakistan on the outskirts of New York will be fascinating.”
Deep down, most Indians in the USA are happy that such a cricket contest is happening in the Big Apple this Sunday. The morning time in New York seems to be the issue for some. Maybe, the ICC could plan better next time, as the Nassau Stadium has no floodlights.