[PICTURE] Indian support in Dubai is stupendous!

[MenInG]

I am in the stadium and I can tell you every single run saved and every single run scored by an Indian player brings out a massive roar. A fall of wicket for Pakistan was greeted as if they had won the World Cup!

We may make fun of Indian crowds but they support their team with great fervor and something maybe the Pakistan fans in Dubai should also learn from.

 

[Varun]

Looks like the Wankhede....a bit.

 

[MenInG]

Looks like the Wankhede....a bit.

mini version

 

[MenInG]

All power to India fans who had the same chance of getting tickets as Pakistan fans did

 

[Dingolfy]

Half the Kerala is in UAE and we are one noisy bunch.So what do you expect?

 

[Gotham Cronie]

This is obviously fake since no Indian fan cares about Pakistan matches.

 

[Zerotohero]

This is obviously fake since no Indian fan cares about Pakistan matches.

Yes true they care about India matches
So they are at the stadium and not for Pakistan

 

[Saj]

Tend to find that far too many of the Pakistani fans in UAE are freeloaders. Free passes and have very little interest in who wins or how the Pakistan team does.

 

[AMSS]

Indian fans in the gulf don't get to see their team as often as pakistani fans.

 

[asifp]

Tend to find that far too many of the Pakistani fans in UAE are freeloaders. Free passes and have very little interest in who wins or how the Pakistan team does.

Saj,

You need to understand the system here. There was less than 24 hour notice given before ticket sales went online. When the notice came (online only), tickets sold out in two hours

Also, please do realize there are 2.7M indians in UAE as compared to 1.2M Pakistanis. The ratio is even more skewed in the professional setting.

So having 2-3 times more Indian fans than Pakistani fans is pure demographics.

 

[Saj]

Saj,

You need to understand the system here. There was less than 24 hour notice given before ticket sales went online. When the notice came (online only), tickets sold out in two hours

Also, please do realize there are 2.7M indians in UAE as compared to 1.2M Pakistanis. The ratio is even more skewed in the professional setting.

So having 2-3 times more Indian fans than Pakistani fans is pure demographics.

Makes no difference whether India are the opponents or not, it's the same.

The sooner Pakistan stops playing in the UAE, the better.

 

[Dios]

India-Bangladesh match should be an electric atmosphere.

Two teams that play exciting, aggressive cricket with fans that actually turn up.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Great to watch.

Next year's IPL will surely be in UAE. Can't hold in India due to the General Election in April-May. BCCI will feel re-assured that the matches will be well sold out. Just need to keep the prices right.

 

[cricketindiafan]

India-Bangladesh match should be an electric atmosphere.

Two teams that play exciting, aggressive cricket with fans that actually turn up.

Not many Indians in UAE will turn up for BD match. They'd rather turn up for the next match vs Pakistan.

Ind-BD match will be 70% BD fans and 30% Indians.

 

[fitCricFan]

Yes true they care about India matches
So they are at the stadium and not for Pakistan

Lol, that cracked me up. I see quite a few empty seats in the upper stands. We are watching this here in Dublin on Temple street, watching this unfold and its pretty boistrous. If it matters, we have fans from both countires including a few English/Irish folks who stopped by to see what all this noise was about and didn't leave. Enjoying every bit of it

 

[AMSS]

Great to watch.

Next year's IPL will surely be in UAE. Can't hold in India due to the General Election in April-May. BCCI will feel re-assured that the matches will be well sold out. Just need to keep the prices right.

Yeah, great to watch on these sluggish pitches. Lmao.

 

[ibykhan2020]

Dont forget this is not just about dubai. Even when pakistan play india in birmingham, its like 90 percent indian.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Yeah, great to watch on these sluggish pitches. Lmao.

Forget the pitch. Atmosphere is quite good. The sponsors have hired guys playing dhols and drums non-stop in the stands. A friend of mine is at the stadium and I am envious of the videos he is sending.

 

[gani999]

Saj,

So having 2-3 times more Indian fans than Pakistani fans is pure demographics.

So can you tell me why the PSL games were played to empty stands in Dubai? Why didn't the Pakistan fans show up for that?

The OP is right about Indian fans being more passionate about their cricket.

 

[pakistani pride]

India-Bangladesh match should be an electric atmosphere.

Two teams that play exciting, aggressive cricket with fans that actually turn up.

Yup there is a long history between the 2 teams. Intense rivals IND vs BANGLA. We all remember the great clashes between them.

 

[BD-fan]

Hats off to the Indians. But the #1 passionate fan are the Afghans.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Dont forget this is not just about dubai. Even when pakistan play india in birmingham, its like 90 percent indian.

Its never 90% but yes usually 65-70% of the fans here too are Indian between the two nations. However this is usually due to them picking up tickets quicker but this wont be the case in the World Cup where there is a ballet system. You will see at least 40% Pak fans when they meet next year.

As for Dubai, there are more Indians in the city.

 

[ibykhan2020]

1.2 million pskistanis in dubai. How can u say that was represented in the ground

 

[CricketDon]

Pakistan fans never turn up regardless where it is hosted. Maybe if they gave out free passes they’d turn up.

 

[HEYY]

BCCI should host next years IPL in South Africa.

 

[Napa]

We may make fun of Indian crowds but they support their team with great fervor and something maybe the Pakistan fans in Dubai should also learn from.

I was in the stadium for the 2011 India Pakistan WC match, and I have to say I have never seen young men with so much energy cheering their team. They spent hours dancing and cheering their team led by Mika Singh (brother of Daler Mehndi) who was facing the crowd cheering them on for almost the entire time.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Glad to see the fans turning up in huge numbers wherever we play. I remember seeing the grounds bleeding blue in Australia, England, South Africa when we even played the home teams. Great spirit and the impact it has on the team is underrated. Its a huge plus for Indian team with such outrageous support wherever they go.

 

[TM Riddle]

India has best fans in Cricket. No doubt about that

 

[ibykhan2020]

I will tell u what the issues are-
1. Pakistani people in England are more into Football.
2. Pakistanis are too lazy and slow in buying tickets and not organised unlike Indian fans.
3. Indians are more willing to pay higher prices for tickets through the black market wheras pakistanis are more kanjus.
1.2 MILLIONS PAKISTANIS AND 1.2 MILLION PLUS IN ENGLAND IS NOT REPRESENTED IN DUBAI EDGBASTON OR OVAL.

 

[DeadBall]

So can you tell me why the PSL games were played to empty stands in Dubai? Why didn't the Pakistan fans show up for that?

The OP is right about Indian fans being more passionate about their cricket.

It was a full house during the Pakistan leg of the PSL matches.

 

[Minnowbasher]

Reason why more Indian passion for cricket is that their team actually wins more. Most Pakistani fans have lost passion over the painful last decade or so where we have been awful while India has been brilliant.

 

[Kroll]

India has best fans in Cricket. No doubt about that

Not really, it's just that there's so many of them, that it can look like that.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Im not sure if the Indian fans are more passionate in the sense I don't think the ones in the gulf are ones who follow the game passionately . But it is true that Indian fans will turn up in stadiums to support their team in good numbers even if they hardly know the players/stats etc.

 

[Rohit_Beardman]

I am going to watch the Finals

 

[Swashbuckler]

Maybe because Indian fans in UAE haven't seen an Indian national team there for 10 years.

 

[BlackShadow]

Indian, Bangladeshi and Aussie crowds are keeping Cricket alive. English too are quite fun during the Ashes.

 

[LongHorn]

Maybe because Indian fans in UAE haven't seen an Indian national team there for 10 years.

This.

Talking of passion, did anyone catch that moment towards the end of the game, when a 6/7 year old boy was wildly waving his flag , only for the mother to make a disapproving face.

Desi parents!

#desiparents

 

[King-Misbah]

Dont forget this is not just about dubai. Even when pakistan play india in birmingham, its like 90 percent indian.

Birmingham is full of Indians. Manchester will have loads of Pakistani fans.

 

[Braveheart]

Generally, there is more Passion for Cricket amongst the Indians than Pakistanis.
With virtually no cricket being played in Pakistan for years, and the 'Knock-on' effects on future Team Building at grass roots level, the interest has diminished with rare Peaks of un-sustained interest in 2009 and 2017 following the Trophy Wins.
You will find more Passion for Pakistan Cricket in the UK.

 

[Zahid87]

Birmingham is full of Indians. Manchester will have loads of Pakistani fans.

Birmingham is full of Punjabis...Indians and Pakistanis.

 

[ibykhan2020]

A

Birmingham has 160,000 pakistanis compared to 65000 indians approxinately. But in Edgbaston cricket ground you would think there is more indians in the city. Watch there will be more indians in old trafford. They good and quick at buying tickets and are more into cricket. Our younger pakistanis are too crazy about footy

 

[Plumb]

Reputation of pakistan cricket has been damaged severely, be it no home cricket or wrong doings of players. I don't blame the fans for giving up on their team.

 

[prisha]

Indian fans now have started enjoying games much more than thier older generations, you just have to see how IPL is attracting crowds to stadiums all over India whether Delhi or Darjeeling, vizag or Vadodara we will go seems to be the slogan. So if it is the national team is playing they will come in droves to support thier team.

 

[gani999]

It was a full house during the Pakistan leg of the PSL matches.

Dude, we are talking about Dubai here.

 

[DeadBall]

Dude, we are talking about Dubai here.

It's just an optical illusion, the Dubai/Abu Dhabi stadiums are very big and can seat up to a million people so even when 50-60 thousand people attend, the stadium still looks empty.

 

[Sherlock]

Found the Bangladeshi fans to be more ardent too. Both countries have great support in UAE.

Pakistani fans have always had issues in the UAE, and it continues in this tournament too.

 

[PakLFC]

I think Pak fans are gradually losing interest in Cricket. Could be that we want to excel in other Sports now.

 

[JattMaula]

I think Pak fans are gradually losing interest in Cricket. Could be that we want to excel in other Sports now.

This must be it. Perhaps its time to let cricket go hockey way to make way for other things.

 

[PakLFC]

This must be it. Perhaps its time to let cricket go hockey way to make way for other things.

Football is where Pak should be concentrating. No ones cares about field Hockey either.

 

[JaDed]

This.

Talking of passion, did anyone catch that moment towards the end of the game, when a 6/7 year old boy was wildly waving his flag , only for the mother to make a disapproving face.

Desi parents!

#desiparents

Your post cracked me up

 

[LongHorn]

Found the Bangladeshi fans to be more ardent too. Both countries have great support in UAE.

Pakistani fans have always had issues in the UAE, and it continues in this tournament too.

If Pakistan played once in 10 or 20 years in the UAE as with India/Bangladesh, they would show passionate support as well.

Even the best Biryani loses allure if you have it weekly ....

 

[Major]

SOme very childish responses here.

Many south Asians that live in UAE are working class.

Also, during the India vs Hong Kong game many din't turn up, while they turned up for this game.

Also, remember one thing, Pakistan plays alot of games in UAE thus it doesn't matter to Pakistanis over there. If they didn't watch this match they could watch it again some other time.


India has barely played 2 odis in the last few years, thus the demand would be high.

If India had regular games here, the crowd would reduce.

 

[Salman]

Credit to Indian fans, wherever India play, they spend more money on tickets then any other nation and are very proactive when it comes to registering for ticket ballots etc.

 

[Braveheart]

Birmingham has 160,000 pakistanis compared to 65000 indians approxinately. But in Edgbaston cricket ground you would think there is more indians in the city. Watch there will be more indians in old trafford. They good and quick at buying tickets and are more into cricket. Our younger pakistanis are too crazy about footy

There are actually very few true Pakistani Punjabis in Birmingham, however, Azad Kashmiri's make up the vast majority of the Pakistani support.
There is also massive Indian diaspora around the greater Birmingham area too i.e. Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall and looking at the last Match at Edgbaston between the two, a large majority of Indians came from Leicester.

 

[Sherlock]

If Pakistan played once in 10 or 20 years in the UAE as with India/Bangladesh, they would show passionate support as well.

Even the best Biryani loses allure if you have it weekly ....

I don't think it's that, tbh. I just feel many more Pakistanis over there aren't really interested in cricket and just come when the tickets sales are going on the cheap, or are free. Also the ticket sales being put up for sale a day or so before the Asia Cup, as posted before, has been pretty poor. Not many are going to be flocking giddily to get grab the tickets.

 

[TQ89]

Dubai population is 53% indian so i think it is fair to expect their huge fanbase there as well.

 

[cricketindiafan]

SOme very childish responses here.

Many south Asians that live in UAE are working class.

Also, during the India vs Hong Kong game many din't turn up, while they turned up for this game.

Also, remember one thing, Pakistan plays alot of games in UAE thus it doesn't matter to Pakistanis over there. If they didn't watch this match they could watch it again some other time.


India has barely played 2 odis in the last few years, thus the demand would be high.

If India had regular games here, the crowd would reduce.

IPL matches in 2014 were played to packed stadiums day after day. Average attendance was 15000 across 20 matches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah over a 2 week period. Expect a repeat next year in April as well.

 

[PakLFC]

India being the much bigger country will naturally have more fans. It's as simple as that.

 

[barah_admi]

Larger population = larger demand for tickets but I have no idea how the ticketing system works. If it is anything like the WC then there is something fishy going on.

 

[Mamoon]

IPL matches in 2014 were played to packed stadiums day after day. Average attendance was 15000 across 20 matches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah over a 2 week period. Expect a repeat next year in April as well.

But that was a one-off event for Indian fans in the UAE. It was the first time they played there since 2007, and this Asia Cup is the first time in four years as well. IPL next year will certainly be a full house, but if India plays in the UAE regularly like Pakistan, it is natural to assume that the attendances might drop.

Nonetheless, there are more Indians than Pakistanis in the UAE, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they attract bigger crowds.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Indian fans are willing to put their money where their heart is as simple as that. You can have India play 10 matches a year in UAE and you will get huge crowd turning up match after match anyone saying this is so because India's making a return here after a long hiatus has no idea about Indian cricket's brand value. It's right up there among the most madly followed teams across all sports.

 

[MenInG]

Very poor support for Pakistan in Abu Dhabi which is really surprising

 

[BaankeJi]

If Pakistan played once in 10 or 20 years in the UAE as with India/Bangladesh, they would show passionate support as well.

Even the best Biryani loses allure if you have it weekly ....

I eat biryani at least once a week and want to eat more. Going on for several years.

 

[Wonderwoman]

Very poor support for Pakistan in Abu Dhabi which is really surprising

There seems to be more Afghan supporters than Pak in the crowd. Thats unexpected!

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

It is definitely a disparity in passion. Even amongst my cricket die hard friends it is always the Indians who are willing to entertain long talks about the sport and its nuances with me while my Pakistani friends just aren't as deeply engrossed unless it is a Pakistan India match. I have to go online to find similarly passionate Pakistani supporters. Just seems the fanbase is more spread out and more prone to peaks and troughs in terms of their support.

My uncle who automatically stops watching any game in which it seems like Pakistan is losing or ever watching highlights of a game (no matter how good) in which Pakistan has lost is an accurate representation of the interactions I get in person.

 

[Plumb]

What is expected of Pak supporters now? take off from work, spend money and show up for a bunch of cricketers who are doing circus on the field?

Reason is very clear why people lose interest in pak team. I thought with Sarfaraz being the captain the fighting spirit will be shown but he made so many blunders that cost us games

 

[MenInG]

Full house with some excellent support for both teams

 

[Tusker]

BUMP

again today at the SCG ... felt like a home game for the players. 37K was the official attendance 90% were all Indian supporters. Incredible.

 

[fitCricFan]

We saw the last 10 overs of the Indian innings and that was the 1st thing that stood out. With so many screaming fans for India, we all thought for a moment that the match is being hosted in India and the Aussies were the visitors

Wish our team can play to such type of crowd support. Time for PSL to work overtime and get matches hosted at home

 

[Bhaijaan]

There is a huge Indian diaspora in Australia and they're all mostly 1st generation Indian-Aussies. Many will even return after education. Cricket gives them a way to connect with their home and they would not miss a chance. Bet Indians buy out most of the tickets as soon as they go online.

 

[Oligochaetes]

There is a huge Indian diaspora in Australia and they're all mostly 1st generation Indian-Aussies. Many will even return after education. Cricket gives them a way to connect with their home and they would not miss a chance. Bet Indians buy out most of the tickets as soon as they go online.

Is there any developed country which does not have a huge Indian diaspora?

 

[Bhaijaan]

Is there any developed country which does not have a huge Indian diaspora?

30 million Indians living outside motherland.

India will one day conquer the world without a war.

 

[KingKhanWC]

30 million Indians living outside motherland.

India will one day conquer the world without a war.

Majority in the grounds have little clue of cricket, sure it's just patriotism.

I rememember watching a test in India, a no ball was bowled and the crowd thought a free hit was coming up for their team

 

[JattMaula]

Majority in the grounds have little clue of cricket, sure it's just patriotism.

I rememember watching a test in India, a no ball was bowled and the crowd thought a free hit was coming up for their team

That shows their lack of knowledge about test cricket not all cricket Kingkhanwc92 bhai.

 

[KingKhanWC]

That shows their lack of knowledge about test cricket not all cricket Kingkhanwc92 bhai.

I think it's to do more with the IPL, it bought Indian viewers who previously weren't much into cricket. Support in the ground does help the team esp in away conditions. Pakistan usually perform well in England and one reason is the support they recieve here.

 

[JattMaula]

I think it's to do more with the IPL, it bought Indian viewers who previously weren't much into cricket. Support in the ground does help the team esp in away conditions. Pakistan usually perform well in England and one reason is the support they recieve here.

One of my uncle once watched a few minutes of a test match with me. He has since considered me a quite stupid individual for following something so boring (according to him).

 

[KingKhanWC]

One of my uncle once watched a few minutes of a test match with me. He has since considered me a quite stupid individual for following something so boring (according to him).

Haha all us cricket fans have had similar reactions. Look more fans to cricket games even for patriotism or a day out is only good for the great game. I would your opinion as to why Indian fans dont turn up in such numbers for test cricket esp at home? Are the tickets expensive? I would have thought having an opportunity to watch your heros would see a lot of interest?

 

[JattMaula]

Haha all us cricket fans have had similar reactions. Look more fans to cricket games even for patriotism or a day out is only good for the great game. I would your opinion as to why Indian fans dont turn up in such numbers for test cricket esp at home? Are the tickets expensive? I would have thought having an opportunity to watch your heros would see a lot of interest?

1. No time on weekdays. Crowd does fill up on weekends.
2. Plenty of other cricket(IPL or LOI) or non cricket entertainment available year round.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Majority in the grounds have little clue of cricket, sure it's just patriotism.

I rememember watching a test in India, a no ball was bowled and the crowd thought a free hit was coming up for their team

That could be true dear KKWC. As I said somewhere going to a cricket match gives Indian diaspora a much needed opportunity to connect with the motherland. It’s not about just cricket. It’s a much bigger cause. Surely it would be the same with Pakistanis. I guess we being in a healthy state as a cricket nation for past 15 years or so helps bringing the crowds as compared to the Pakistanis who were once used to a team of swagger but feel kind of let down by this bunch’s ineptness? If we had the team we had in the 90s maybe the crowd wouldn’t be so motivated to come . We are all glory hunters to a point.