[PICTURES/VIDEO] The return of Test cricket in Pakistan - Marketing/Crowd watch

[Boi]

It may sound harsh, but the reality is that the current Pakistan Test team is not a very marketable product, without too many world-class performers.

Add to that an opponent who is very much like Pakistan, re-building and without big names.

Crowds in Test cricket at Karachi have always been dire even in the 90s when you could say the players were more ‘marketable’. This is hardly surprising. Atleast there’s still more of a crowd than we got in the UAE for Tests.

 

[JaDed]

I don’t understand why posters keep saying 90s crowd was bad, Pakistan has had no Intl test cricket for 10 years , 10 effin years so crowd was expected, only thing I can think of is Stadium conditions and marketing.

 

[Saj]

Crowds in Test cricket at Karachi have always been dire even in the 90s when you could say the players were more ‘marketable’. This is hardly surprising. Atleast there’s still more of a crowd than we got in the UAE for Tests.

But there were still many more fans in the NSK than we are seeing at the moment.

 

[Slog]

I don’t understand why posters keep saying 90s crowd was bad, Pakistan has had no Intl test cricket for 10 years , 10 effin years so crowd was expected, only thing I can think of is Stadium conditions and marketing.

People don’t even know that much tbh

And it’s a whole expedition to get tickets.

I tried to go Day 1 but at the time you could only get tickets from certain locations and not at the ground.

Now they’ve opened it at the stadium that you can buy it there so I’m going tomm.

Also 3-4 enclosures are closed angwa

 

[Slog]

Watched some live action of the first session and was not surprised to see barely a few people which is a usual sight for Karachi.

PSL matches were full since cricket was exciting.

Heck I had to stand in line for 2 hours to get in

 

[Green Patriot]

I missed uni and went both days.
Crowd was not much but very energetic. I hope Saturday and Sunday will see an increase since its the weekend.

 

[Slog]

I missed uni and went both days.
Crowd was not much but very energetic. I hope Saturday and Sunday will see an increase since its the weekend.

Bro can you confirm that we just show up with CNICs and you’re good to go.

Also I should sleep lol

 

[Green Patriot]

Bro can you confirm that we just show up with CNICs and you’re good to go.

Also I should sleep lol

If you are going through the free enclosures, yes.
If student enclosures then your institute's ID card/ CNIC and if you have a ticket then that and CNIC obviously.

And so should I

 

[Captain caveman]

I love all the excuses!
The truth is test cricket is dead in Pakistan.
Only the SENA countries and india have good crowds for test cricket.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Really need a full house today.

 

[Shazzam]

Maybe if Misbah and Azhar were marketable we would have people here.

 

[Ronaldo7]

I love all the excuses!
The truth is test cricket is dead in Pakistan.
Only the SENA countries and india have good crowds for test cricket.

7k people in a stadium sounds like a good crowd to you lol.

There's barely any crowd in the SENA countries too.

 

[MenInG]

7k people in a stadium sounds like a good crowd to you lol.

There's barely any crowd in the SENA countries too.

That is about 6.5k more than UAE on any given day. Huge improvement.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

i expect more crowd today and tomorrow for two reasons.
1. weekend
2. people want to see babar play.

 

[RobinJay]

i expect more crowd today and tomorrow for two reasons.
1. weekend
2. people want to see babar play.

Going today for those exact reasons lol

 

[Captain caveman]

Going today for those exact reasons lol

Good man!
Cheer for us who cant be there, as we live overseas and for all the armchair fans in Pakistan

 

[Captain caveman]

Going today for those exact reasons lol

Yes babar is the only superstar in this test.
Shaheen can also become a superstar but he needs a bowling partner, abbas may take wickets, but he is not going to thrill anyone.
My answer and the third possible superstar of Pakistan cricket is HARIS RAUF!

 

[Captain caveman]

Yes babar is the only superstar in this test.
Shaheen can also become a superstar but he needs a bowling partner, abbas may take wickets, but he is not going to thrill anyone.
My answer and the third possible superstar of Pakistan cricket is HARIS RAUF!

If shajeel, fakhar and umar could sort themselves out we would have 6 superstars instead of 1/2 in the team.
I think people would pay to see such a side.
Yasir has been a superstar in the last few years but his spark is fading, he needs to rekindle his form, that makes 7 superstars
and in abid ali, shafiq and rizwan, you have 3 very good players who are very watchable - pretty much a star team to me.

 

[Abdullah719]

Crowd building up.

 

[MenInG]

Some pics from the PCB:

 

[SensiblePakFan]

That is about 6.5k more than UAE on any given day. Huge improvement.

Indeed

 

[Syed1]

Haan bhai aj crowd kaisi hai?


Where are all those who were getting lippy?

 

[Mueez]

Can everyone stop with “Karachiites and Lahoris”!

We are Pakistanis first.

Pakistan is bigger than a certain city.

 

[omairsiddiqui]

Can everyone stop with “Karachiites and Lahoris”!

We are Pakistanis first.

Pakistan is bigger than a certain city.

Thank you for saying this. Much needed.

 

[Captain caveman]

Some pics from the PCB:

View attachment 97905View attachment 97906

The Pcb couldnt even find a stand that was full, those were the best they could find lol!

 

[Abdullah719]

Reception from the crowd when Babar came to bat:

<iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/uitot/dvmeio" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[pillionrider]

Reception from the crowd when Babar came to bat:

Wow nice.

I think this video reminded me of something I'd forgotten. How big a deal test cricket being played in Pakistan is for the supporters and to inspire future talent.

 

[MenInG]

Support from Nigeria?

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Biggest crowd of the series in today.

 

[Runner Up]

Tomorrow is a working day so not many people will come to watch the last day of the match.

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Tomorrow is a working day so not many people will come to watch the last day of the match.

Have a look at the crowds in australia right now.

 

[MenInG]

Well done to the people in Pindi and Karachi for making our team feel good for themselves and the result is there for all to see.

 

[ElRaja]

look at how much it means to young nasim to be playing in front of a packed house, proud of pindiwalas for showing support in the game against srilanka in a dead rubber day, and now against bang.

pindi deserves a test every series, and would love to see more test cricket in smaller venues. cant imagine the crowd when cricket goes back to Peshawar and Faisalabad.