ISLAMABAD, March 06 (Online): Sufi Ahmed Jalil, a constant cheerleader at almost every cricket match that Pakistan has played since the 1980s, is all set to leave for India for the Pakistan-India cricket series.
Jalil, known popularly as “Chacha Cricket” or “Uncle Cricket”, is seen in almost every Pakistani match with his long beard, his green shalwar kameez dress and the Pakistani flag.
“I love cricket like anything, its my favorite game,” Jalil, 59, told IANS.
Chacha has his own fan following among Pakistanis. “Now we look for him in the stands and miss him if he’s not in any match…,” Pakistan cricket captain Inzimamul Haq had said at a recent television programme.
Wearing the Pakistan green colour and holding the national flag aloft, Jalil can be seen cheering the team be it in Sharjah, England or India.
He was first seen in a match at Sharjah in the late 1980s and since then he has visited almost every cricketing venue in the world waving the country’s flag.
Earlier Jalil paid his own expenses and even sold his home for Rs.1.5 million to go cheering his country. He later started hunting for sponsors as it became difficult to fund his own way.
Jalil had a well paying job in Abu Dhabi in the 1980s when some members of the then cricket team convinced him to return to Pakistan. They promised him a good job with the Pakistan Cricket Board. But the promise has yet to be realized.
Jalil met the then PCB chairman, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, who extended him some support. The current PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has helped him in visiting India for the series that begin March 8.
“I am very grateful to Shaharyar and Tauqir for their support,” he told a private TV channel before leaving for India Saturday.
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Source: http://www.paktribune.com/main/index.php?id=31&newsId=96396
