[VIDEO/PICTURES] COVID-19 and empty stands at Old Trafford - how sad is this?

[MenInG]

Video footage from Saj who was at Old Trafford for the 1st T20I:


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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How times have changed. <br><br>The last time I was at Old Trafford for a T20I between England and Pakistan there were over 20,000 Pakistanis here having a great time and it felt like Lahore or Karachi or Peshawar.<br><br>Today it's empty stands.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/ilaMykd2Xh">pic.twitter.com/ilaMykd2Xh</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1299390846312296450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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[sweep_shot]

It sucks but these are extreme times.

It is better to have no crowd than no cricket.

 

[Junaids]

Old Trafford has become a dump unfit for spectators who aren’t on a hospitality package.

In the 1970s and 1980s I used to sit in the covered stands where the uncovered Lightning and Fosters Party stands now alternate between baking and bathing.

Now the only shelter is if you sit on the seats under The Point hospitality building.

It’s a pathetic experience now when it rains. The would-be spectators are lucky they didn’t attend.

 

[MenInG]

This is what Saj saw on that day.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Video: incredible support for Pakistan today. Crowd celebrating a Pakistan wicket earlier <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EngvPak?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EngvPak</a> <a href="https://t.co/IfvB4msGMa">pic.twitter.com/IfvB4msGMa</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/773604435381653504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Old Trafford 2016 - England v Pakistan T20I<br><br>Old Trafford 2020 - England v Pakistan T20I<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/W6UqkjePbR">pic.twitter.com/W6UqkjePbR</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1299671305223106560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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[sweep_shot]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Old Trafford 2016 - England v Pakistan T20I<br><br>Old Trafford 2020 - England v Pakistan T20I<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/W6UqkjePbR">pic.twitter.com/W6UqkjePbR</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1299671305223106560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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I miss crowd.

Cricket feels empty without crowd.

 

[MenInG]

Just not the same - especially in T20Is - provides that adrenalin flow that players need from the crowd.

 

[MenInG]

The spirit is alive

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistani fans will always find a way to support their team. These fans are standing outside Old Trafford at a nearby tram stop <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvPAK</a> <a href="https://t.co/FFln5oPhB8">pic.twitter.com/FFln5oPhB8</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1300099743377494023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

Old Trafford today!

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