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Buzzing with 'Zindabad'

Dawn.com Published October 3, 2012
An enthusiastic Pakistani fan points to his shirt and cheers at the camera just before the Pakistan Australia Super Eights match outside the R Premadasa Stadium in Columbo.
An enthusiastic Pakistani fan points to his shirt and cheers at the camera just before the Pakistan Australia Super Eights match outside the R Premadasa Stadium in Columbo.
An Indian fan paints himself with the colours of his country's flag, along with the message "Miss you Tendulkar", just before the beginning of Australia India Super Eights match.
An Indian fan paints himself with the colours of his country's flag, along with the message "Miss you Tendulkar", just before the beginning of Australia India Super Eights match.
A Pakistani supporter and Indian fan stand together arm-in-arm during the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match.
A Pakistani supporter and Indian fan stand together arm-in-arm during the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match.
Pakistani fans in various costumes and customised team shirts cheer during the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match.
Pakistani fans in various costumes and customised team shirts cheer during the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match.
A South African fan wearing the team's flag celebrates the wicket of Shahid Afridi during the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match.
A South African fan wearing the team's flag celebrates the wicket of Shahid Afridi during the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match.
Two fans pose together at the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match, one of them is the "Pakistani superhero", who is the newest mascot in the long line of die-hard Pakistani supporters who are seen at most matches that the team plays. The first of these was "Chacha Cricket" who began to make a regular appearance at Pakistan matches almost fifteen years ago.
Two fans pose together at the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match, one of them is the "Pakistani superhero", who is the newest mascot in the long line of die-hard Pakistani supporters who are seen at most matches that the team plays. The first of these was "Chacha Cricket" who began to make a regular appearance at Pakistan matches almost fifteen years ago.
Pakistani fans celebrate their team's win against South Africa in their match during the Super Eights.
Pakistani fans celebrate their team's win against South Africa in their match during the Super Eights.
A full house teems with energy at the India Pakistan Super Eights match as India and Pakistan flags pepper the stands.
A full house teems with energy at the India Pakistan Super Eights match as India and Pakistan flags pepper the stands.
Fans of Shahid Afridi pose for the camera at the Pakistan Australia Super Eights match while holding a shirt bearing his nickname "Boom Boom", and an old photo of the Pakistani all-rounder.
Fans of Shahid Afridi pose for the camera at the Pakistan Australia Super Eights match while holding a shirt bearing his nickname "Boom Boom", and an old photo of the Pakistani all-rounder.
Fans wearing Sri Lanka shirts, Australia shirts, and even a few holding South African flags cheer together, as a huge Pakistan flag waves above at the Pakistan Australia Super Eights match on October 2.
Fans wearing Sri Lanka shirts, Australia shirts, and even a few holding South African flags cheer together, as a huge Pakistan flag waves above at the Pakistan Australia Super Eights match on October 2.
A local band playing traditional Sri Lankan music during the Pakistan India match in the Super Eights.
A local band playing traditional Sri Lankan music during the Pakistan India match in the Super Eights.
Sri Lankan fans at the Pakistan India match dance and celebrate in the stands, while a local band plays traditional Sri Lankan music.
Sri Lankan fans at the Pakistan India match dance and celebrate in the stands, while a local band plays traditional Sri Lankan music.
Indian fans dressed up in traditional clothing for the big match, Pakistan v India, at R Premadasa Stadium in Columbo. Indian fans traveling to watch the matches call themselves the ?Bharat Army?.
Indian fans dressed up in traditional clothing for the big match, Pakistan v India, at R Premadasa Stadium in Columbo. Indian fans traveling to watch the matches call themselves the ?Bharat Army?.
This fan wearing a t-shirt that read: 'I back the Pak' during the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match confused many fans as it was unclear whether this was an Aussie supporter backing Pakistan for the day, or just a South African gone rogue. Wright Thomson of ESPN actually shed some light on his identity in an excellent feature: "Andy and Melissa Heger live on a quiet lane in central Colombo, moving here after falling in love with it during a sailing trip around the world, somehow ending up in the inner circl
This fan wearing a t-shirt that read: 'I back the Pak' during the Pakistan South Africa Super Eights match confused many fans as it was unclear whether this was an Aussie supporter backing Pakistan for the day, or just a South African gone rogue. Wright Thomson of ESPN actually shed some light on his identity in an excellent feature: "Andy and Melissa Heger live on a quiet lane in central Colombo, moving here after falling in love with it during a sailing trip around the world, somehow ending up in the inner circl

American fans shouting “Pakistan Zindabad”, Pakistani fans leading reverberating chants of “South Africa Zindabad”, Sri Lankans dancing in the aisles despite the fluctuating fortunes of their team during a match, the 2012 World T20 has served up quite a few surprises and a lot of flavour.

Traditionally, the West Indies supporters have been known to bring quite a carnival to cricket matches. But anyone who has experienced the buzz around the sub-continent is well aware that Sri Lankan fans can really go the distance as well. Add to that mix hordes of Pakistani and Indian fans, and some great encounters on the field and you experience an atmosphere described by a traveling ESPN writer as “insanity”.

Shoaib Tariq, a photographer from Karachi attended the matches in Sri Lanka and captured many of the fans and celebrations during the Super Eights to provide a Dawn.com exclusive gallery of the stands.

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Comments (16) Closed
Atif
Oct 04, 2012 11:50am
They are professional. But professional at their worst.
Recommend 0
Indian
Oct 03, 2012 06:42pm
After seeing 10th picture on Pakistan best News paper ....Kohli,s finger is justified.....
Recommend 0
Ali Hassan Ayub
Oct 03, 2012 06:20pm
nice images. Pakistan Zindabad!
Recommend 0
Kohli_ka_Baap
Oct 03, 2012 08:20pm
Yep , that is exactly what we expect from non professional Kohli from india ;).. i mean fans are rowdy but you expect better from pro's. i guess he sucks :) so the Fans are justified to be his Baaaap..
Recommend 0
utsav
Oct 03, 2012 08:16pm
some of them shows the sick mentality of cricket fans.
Recommend 0
Saeed
Oct 03, 2012 09:28pm
I am agree not very tasteful
Recommend 0
dilshad
Oct 04, 2012 04:27am
puri duniya janti hai kon kiska bap hai or kohli no doubt he is the father of all pakistanies
Recommend 0
dilshad
Oct 04, 2012 04:29am
mar kha kai bhi sudhartai nahi pakistani. chalo koi nai tumhari kismat mai mar hi likhi hai India kai hathon. Hindustan Zindabad
Recommend 0
LOC1947
Oct 04, 2012 08:22pm
in the match againsr pak...kohli showed u who is the BAAP!!!! U MORON PAK FANS....hv some respect for others....ok....den only u'l win and be abetter team.
Recommend 0
Aisha
Oct 05, 2012 05:45am
Missed chachaa cricket an that big moustache guy but well done !
Recommend 0
Ashish Mittal
Oct 04, 2012 06:38pm
Kohli Inna da Piyo.
Recommend 0
USA
Oct 04, 2012 06:55am
Every thing wrong with nation n its product :)
Recommend 0
Khaksar
Oct 04, 2012 05:34pm
For the guys in pic 10...get some life!!
Recommend 0
Daleep
Oct 03, 2012 03:57pm
beautfiul images, nice work
Recommend 0
Roe
Oct 03, 2012 03:36pm
American fans? Or you mean South Africans fans? mentioned at "American fans..." I thought Americans weren't playing in the world cup.
Recommend 0
liberal indian
Oct 03, 2012 09:20pm
10th picture is very classy. Typical Pakistanis.
Recommend 0

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