Challenges of following Pakistan cricket

[Veteran]

The first time I watched the Pakistan team was in 1960 in what was then Dacca. I lived in Chittagong but persuaded my family to let me go and stay with friends to watch the match. It was a memorable experience. Will never forget Duncan Sharpe's stylish knock on debut for Pakistan. The highlight of course was Fazal taking the new ball and showing it to the crowd before bowling Neil Harvey on 96. I watched a few more test matches but mostly followed cricket by listening to the commentaries of Jamshed Marker and Omar Qureishi.

I left Dacca in 1969 and moved to Syracuse. My father knowing my passion for cricket sent me newspaper clippings and his own reports on matches. When I moved to Toronto some years later at least cricket was played in the city and I played for a Pakistani team and later with Antiguan and Sri Lankan teams. Still it was hard to follow Pakistan cricket. I used to go the library and read reports of matches in the Times newspaper.

I also managed to make trips to see cricket involving Pakistan--Jamaica in the 70's (Asif Iqbal 146), England on a number of occasions seeing tests at Leeds (Saleem Malik 99), Trent Bridge (Umar Gul 65), Lords on a couple of occasions. Went to Pakistan to see World Cup but in Dubai airport I learnt that Pakistan were out. Last year I saw Pakistan beat South Africa. Had tickets for Lords this year but covid scuttled all plans.

The most challenging thing has been getting tv coverage of Pakistan matches. Sling apparently shows cricket in USA but this is not a available in Canada. Over the years with great difficulty I have managed to watch PSL on Cricket Gateway. It has been a challenge for a number of reasons among them the fact that I usually was in Florida in February and had to make all kinds of arrangements for internet etc. Here in Toronto there are a couple of channels that supposedly show cricket but they are replays ad nauseum mostly of IPL.

I signed up for DAZN which is great if you follow soccer etc but not that great for cricket. At least they have shown some Pakistan cricket. I don't mind paying to watch cricket but unfortunately this has always been easier said than done.

I am writing this because I am thrilled that I can watch domestic cricket in Pakistan on YouTube. Just discovered this and it is great to see the upcoming talent in Pakistan. In my old age with travel becoming didficult I am glad I can follow Pakistan cricket. Seeing up and coming players is so important. One of my most memorable experiences was seeing Pakistan A team playing in Cheltenham a couple of years ago. Hope to be able to see Pakistan vs Zimbabwe though don't know if DAZN will show these matches.

Through the years it has been a frustrating process sonetimes not least because of all the weird things that have happened and the bewildering decisions made in selection and strategy. But when all is said and done Pakistan is the team I will always love and support.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

This is a very beautiful post and a reminder of challenges of following Pakistani cricket.

This year the national T20 has been such a refreshing change and hopefully things can work out for PCB and they continue to maintain excellence and we don't have to go back to terrible cameras.

Thank you for this.

 

[Titan24]

Brilliant post filled with beautiful emotions of a true Pakistan cricket fan.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and representing what being an actual fan is.

 

[Markhor]

Great post, POTW for me. Following Pakistan cricket has always been a mission. Growing up in the infancy of the internet (when Windows 2000 blew my young mind), you weren't saturated with cricket as you are now. The first task was finding out which TV station here in the UK even had the rights to our international series. Normally it was one of the Asian channels like ARY Digital.

People now lose their heads if they don't get a minimum of 1080p coverage, but what I saw was barely SD. It was ad per over stuff too - no sooner an over ended it was straight to ad for "Communications 2000", "Himalayan Carpets" or some Asian restaurant in London who used "Lahore Lahore Eh" as one of their jingles.

I rarely saw away series - for those I'd print off the match reports from Cricinfo's archaic website at the time and I'd read those word for word. Domestic cricket updates were even scarcer. When a World Cup came around though, I'd beg my parents for a Sky subscription.

Another gem was The Cricketer magazine. When you're a kid looking for Pakistan cricket focused content, this was a lifesaver. There was a book store in Bradford that sold them, and I bought a few copies from the mid-2000s era which I really wish I still had. I've looked everywhere in my house for them but someone must have thrown them out. That was bedtime reading for me.

Now with PP and social media, and online access to sporting channels all over the world, you have so much cricket at your fingertips. Fans growing up in this era have no idea how good they have it now. PCB to their credit look like they're professionalising the broadcast setup and for the first time, are properly marketing domestic cricket.

 

[Veteran]

Thanks for all your great comments. Nice to know I am not the only one who has gone to great lengths to follow Pakistan cricket. One correction: Asif's score of 146 was in England, a match I didn't see although I was in England at the time. In Jamaica he scored 130 odd. A very fine innings.

 

[UP]

If you live in Toronto - get IPTV. You can watch any channel in the world and as much cricket of course. All live.

It's very, very cheap.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

I started watching in the 2009-10 series Aus v Pakistan. I was only 9 then. The sydney test broke my heart and jt was only the second ever match I saw pakistan play.

I started following coverage and media/analysis in 2011 WC though, that's when I really got in and started following closely.

 

[MMHS]

Thanks for all your great comments. Nice to know I am not the only one who has gone to great lengths to follow Pakistan cricket. One correction: Asif's score of 146 was in England, a match I didn't see although I was in England at the time. In Jamaica he scored 130 odd. A very fine innings.

You saw Asif Iqbal’s 140 at Kingston, old Sabina Park track, notorious for uneven bounce and chasing ~450, he came at 50/4 and made a galant fight; I believe Imran took a 6for in first day and he was faster than Holding at times.

Which is the best Test innings you have seen live - I believe Harvey’s 96, on that track. Asif’s 140 & Malik’s 99 comes next.

 

[MMHS]

If you live in Toronto - get IPTV. You can watch any channel in the world and as much cricket of course. All live.

It's very, very cheap.

I was surprised to know that he is not aware of IP Tv - around $100 one time and like $15/month.

 

[Veteran]

If you live in Toronto - get IPTV. You can watch any channel in the world and as much cricket of course. All live.

It's very, very cheap.

Thanks will look into it. Never heard of it. Any channel in the world is pretty amazing.

 

[Veteran]

You saw Asif Iqbal’s 140 at Kingston, old Sabina Park track, notorious for uneven bounce and chasing ~450, he came at 50/4 and made a galant fight; I believe Imran took a 6for in first day and he was faster than Holding at times.

Which is the best Test innings you have seen live - I believe Harvey’s 96, on that track. Asif’s 140 & Malik’s 99 comes next.

Asif scored 135 at Sabina Park. I erroneously typed 146 which was his top score against England of course. Of the test innings I've seen Asif's would have been the most aesthetically pleasing. In 50 over cricket saw some fine innings in the World Cup in Pakistan--Lara and D'Silva. Haris Sohail innings against South Africa last year was impressive. Lots of great inni gs over the years that I didn't have the opportunity to see live.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Indeed we are blessed with YouTube streaming these days.

 

[Varun]

Interesting thread with some good posts.

Yes, it's easy to take things for granted these days - and it extends to our impressions of past players and performances too. My thread last week on Romesh Kaluwitharana also points to this.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Reminds me of when I was a kid and me and my brother were so obsessed we bought a shortwave radio so we could listen to the commentary direct from Pakistan. Seems almost unbelievable that I could take such an interest in the game, whereas now I sometimes don't even watch when it's on tv.

Nice to be reminded that it wasn't always that way. Great post.

 

[TrentDevil]

Brilliant Post Sir
I'm a mad Pak cricket fan but I believe it's mainly because I get to watch them pretty easily without any hassle, doubt it would have been same for me if I wasn't watching them over TV or internet, the level of passion surely wouldn't have been same.

Kudos to you that despite the lack of good options, you're as interested & committed as you were decades back, a proper SUPER FAN!

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Great post, POTW for me. Following Pakistan cricket has always been a mission. Growing up in the infancy of the internet (when Windows 2000 blew my young mind), you weren't saturated with cricket as you are now. The first task was finding out which TV station here in the UK even had the rights to our international series. Normally it was one of the Asian channels like ARY Digital.

People now lose their heads if they don't get a minimum of 1080p coverage, but what I saw was barely SD. It was ad per over stuff too - no sooner an over ended it was straight to ad for "Communications 2000", "Himalayan Carpets" or some Asian restaurant in London who used "Lahore Lahore Eh" as one of their jingles.

I rarely saw away series - for those I'd print off the match reports from Cricinfo's archaic website at the time and I'd read those word for word. Domestic cricket updates were even scarcer. When a World Cup came around though, I'd beg my parents for a Sky subscription.

Another gem was The Cricketer magazine. When you're a kid looking for Pakistan cricket focused content, this was a lifesaver. There was a book store in Bradford that sold them, and I bought a few copies from the mid-2000s era which I really wish I still had. I've looked everywhere in my house for them but someone must have thrown them out. That was bedtime reading for me.

Now with PP and social media, and online access to sporting channels all over the world, you have so much cricket at your fingertips. Fans growing up in this era have no idea how good they have it now. PCB to their credit look like they're professionalising the broadcast setup and for the first time, are properly marketing domestic cricket.

The Cricketer magazine - Pakistan edition - that was a blast from the past. I remember first buying it in Pakistan and being amazed that they managed to cram a full magazine with Pakistan cricket. It was decent quality stuff too. When I got back to the UK I managed to locate an English distributor who sent it out. I spoke to him on the phone and seems he was a bit of a Pakistan cricket enthusiast as well.

 

[mon858]

Some of the memories/challenges:
1. 92 world cup final - had an exam that day, missed most of it!
2. listening to radio to follow games for games that didn't have video coverage or while away from home, sometimes sneaking a pocket radio in class
3. watching local matches live in karachi. at one point even going for some domestic games in asghar ali shah stadium watching the likes of Asif Mujtaba, Rashid Latif, etc.
4. cricketer magazine
5. renting video taped game highlights/recordings from video stores to watch games that we didn't used to have coverage in US.
6. going over to a former sports journalists home in freezing weather late night to follow pakistan australia games live as they had one of the big dish antennas needed at that time for coverage in US.
7. the modern day ease of having willow/sling,etc and being able to follow on phone anywhere, anytime, even while driving

 

[Veteran]

The Cricketer magazine - Pakistan edition - that was a blast from the past. I remember first buying it in Pakistan and being amazed that they managed to cram a full magazine with Pakistan cricket. It was decent quality stuff too. When I got back to the UK I managed to locate an English distributor who sent it out. I spoke to him on the phone and seems he was a bit of a Pakistan cricket enthusiast as well.

I used to collect Wisdens and had several in my collection going back to the one in the 50's that had Fazal as one of the five cricketers of the year. Had to leave part of my collection in Dhaka when I left. Continued to collect sporadically but eventually got rid of some and sold a few to a collector. I still keep a few special editions. I also used to buy copies of Cricketer Pakistan which was available in a store here called Karachi Bazaar.

 

[Veteran]

Some of the memories/challenges:
1. 92 world cup final - had an exam that day, missed most of it!
2. listening to radio to follow games for games that didn't have video coverage or while away from home, sometimes sneaking a pocket radio in class
3. watching local matches live in karachi. at one point even going for some domestic games in asghar ali shah stadium watching the likes of Asif Mujtaba, Rashid Latif, etc.
4. cricketer magazine
5. renting video taped game highlights/recordings from video stores to watch games that we didn't used to have coverage in US.
6. going over to a former sports journalists home in freezing weather late night to follow pakistan australia games live as they had one of the big dish antennas needed at that time for coverage in US.
7. the modern day ease of having willow/sling,etc and being able to follow on phone anywhere, anytime, even while driving

Interesting. Glad that maybe we don't have to go to absurd lengths to follow the game. I have subscribed to Willow from time to time but their coverage in Canada seems more limited.

 

[SARJ_BD]

What a beautiful post reflecting the writer with a beautiful heart.

 

[Rana]

The first time I watched the Pakistan team was in 1960 in what was then Dacca. I lived in Chittagong but persuaded my family to let me go and stay with friends to watch the match. It was a memorable experience. Will never forget Duncan Sharpe's stylish knock on debut for Pakistan. The highlight of course was Fazal taking the new ball and showing it to the crowd before bowling Neil Harvey on 96. I watched a few more test matches but mostly followed cricket by listening to the commentaries of Jamshed Marker and Omar Qureishi.

I left Dacca in 1969 and moved to Syracuse. My father knowing my passion for cricket sent me newspaper clippings and his own reports on matches. When I moved to Toronto some years later at least cricket was played in the city and I played for a Pakistani team and later with Antiguan and Sri Lankan teams. Still it was hard to follow Pakistan cricket. I used to go the library and read reports of matches in the Times newspaper.

I also managed to make trips to see cricket involving Pakistan--Jamaica in the 70's (Asif Iqbal 146), England on a number of occasions seeing tests at Leeds (Saleem Malik 99), Trent Bridge (Umar Gul 65), Lords on a couple of occasions. Went to Pakistan to see World Cup but in Dubai airport I learnt that Pakistan were out. Last year I saw Pakistan beat South Africa. Had tickets for Lords this year but covid scuttled all plans.

The most challenging thing has been getting tv coverage of Pakistan matches. Sling apparently shows cricket in USA but this is not a available in Canada. Over the years with great difficulty I have managed to watch PSL on Cricket Gateway. It has been a challenge for a number of reasons among them the fact that I usually was in Florida in February and had to make all kinds of arrangements for internet etc. Here in Toronto there are a couple of channels that supposedly show cricket but they are replays ad nauseum mostly of IPL.

I signed up for DAZN which is great if you follow soccer etc but not that great for cricket. At least they have shown some Pakistan cricket. I don't mind paying to watch cricket but unfortunately this has always been easier said than done.

I am writing this because I am thrilled that I can watch domestic cricket in Pakistan on YouTube. Just discovered this and it is great to see the upcoming talent in Pakistan. In my old age with travel becoming didficult I am glad I can follow Pakistan cricket. Seeing up and coming players is so important. One of my most memorable experiences was seeing Pakistan A team playing in Cheltenham a couple of years ago. Hope to be able to see Pakistan vs Zimbabwe though don't know if DAZN will show these matches.

Through the years it has been a frustrating process sonetimes not least because of all the weird things that have happened and the bewildering decisions made in selection and strategy. But when all is said and done Pakistan is the team I will always love and support.

Excellent. Loyalty is the name of the game.

 

[Veteran]

Should also acknowledge the important role played by Pak Passion. An important source of information and a platform where fans can share their views. I log in to this site almost every day and while I don't post or comment very often enjoy reading what others write.

 

[Veteran]

What a beautiful post reflecting the writer with a beautiful heart.

Thank you. Bangladesh is where I grew up and learned my cricket. Follow Bangladesh cricket as well and am proud of their achievements. Have seen Bangladesh test match vs West Indies in Dhaka.