When did you start watching cricket?

[sweep_shot]

I am making this thread just to see which fans are new fans and which fans are old fans. It helps me to understand a poster's perspective better.

Anyway, I first got introduced to cricket back in 1996-1997. I was around 6-7 years old.

At that time, Bangladesh didn't have ODI status or Test status and they were not playing many international games. So, I was rooting for Pakistan since it was the only Test playing Muslim-majority country.

The player that really got me interested in cricket was Shahid Afridi. He was a hot topic then; scored a 37-ball century and later on scored a match-winning 109 against India (Sahara Cup).

After that, I never looked back. Been following this game to this day.

I have played street cricket for many years and also played hard ball league cricket in Canada for 5 years. I have also played indoor cricket in high school.

Teams I currently support are: Bangladesh (my home country), Canada (my adopted country), Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Australia.

Players who I used to emulate as a batter: Shahid Afridi, Tamim Iqbal, and Kamran Akmal.

Player who I used to emulate as a bowler: Shakib.

When did you start to watch cricket?

 

[IAJ]

I probably watched a couple of years earlier but what I remember clearly is the WC 1992 Down Under with the cornered tigers, so you can say I started watching properly in 1992. The issue here in Norway was that that we only had two major foreign channels back then: CNN and BBC. And also watched the Test series between Pak and England in 1992 I think?

 

[sweep_shot]

I probably watched a couple of years earlier but what I remember clearly is the WC 1992 Down Under with the cornered tigers, so you can say I started watching properly in 1992. The issue here in Norway was that that we only had two major foreign channels back then: CNN and BBC. And also watched the Test series between Pak and England in 1992 I think?

Nice.

1992 WC seemed like a great World Cup. Too bad I couldn't watch it as I was 2 years old then.

My first World Cup was 1999 WC. It was an amazing World Cup.

 

[ElRaja]

longer ago than i like to admit, if we keeping the format my first concerete recollection of cricket was pakistan playing south africa and beating west indies 3-0 in the winter of 97/98

after that i started watching cricket, and found azhar mahmoods performances against the south africans drew me in, i had no context of what he was doing, but for some reason it captivated me. eventually i discovered saeed anwar and saqlain mushtaq and they become my childhood heroes.

i never played cricket beyond a few games for a school and work, and some street cricket when i was super young. somewhere in my early teens i completely stopped playing owing to moving around, and lost all my skills. i could bowl leggies, googlies, sliders, offies, doosras at around ten years old. in hindsight i didnt realise that was quite exceptional imo.

team i support: pakistan, england, australia... anyone playing india

players who i emulated: saqlain mushtaq, shane warne and arshad khan, lol.

my top 5 favourites since ive been watching: saqlain, shane warne, saeed anwar, shoaib akhtar (true pindi boy rockstar), brian lara

 

[sweep_shot]

longer ago than i like to admit, if we keeping the format my first concerete recollection of cricket was pakistan playing south africa and beating west indies 3-0 in the winter of 97/98

after that i started watching cricket, and found azhar mahmoods performances against the south africans drew me in, i had no context of what he was doing, but for some reason it captivated me. eventually i discovered saeed anwar and saqlain mushtaq and they become my childhood heroes.

i never played cricket beyond a few games for a school and work, and some street cricket when i was super young. somewhere in my early teens i completely stopped playing owing to moving around, and lost all my skills. i could bowl leggies, googlies, sliders, offies, doosras at around ten years old. in hindsight i didnt realise that was quite exceptional imo.

team i support: pakistan, england, australia... anyone playing india

players who i emulated: saqlain mushtaq, shane warne and arshad khan, lol.

my top 5 favourites since ive been watching: saqlain, shane warne, saeed anwar, shoaib akhtar (true pindi boy rockstar), brian lara

Arshad Khan. That's an interesting choice. He used to be an economical bowler.

I remember that Pakistan-South Africa series. Azhar Mahmood scored a great century.

Looks like you started to watch cricket almost at the same time as I did.

 

[ElRaja]

Arshad Khan. That's an interesting choice. He used to be an economical bowler.

I remember that Pakistan-South Africa series. Azhar Mahmood scored a great century.

Looks like you started to watch cricket almost at the same time as I did.

yes, i also watched the icc trophy bangladesh played, when hasibul hussain was opening the bowling, i remembered his name for some reason.

i liked arshad khan becuase i found it easy to bowl line and length with spin with his action, he used to rock his torso from left to right in his run up, i copied it and used to joke i was cradling a baby in the wind up, my uncles found that funny, so it kinda stuck in my head, to this day if i have a ball in my hand i throw a few balls down with that action, lol.

ironically give paks spin stock these days, hed be a shoe in starter in tests.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

1999 wc.
Got properly invested in bilaterals and ODIs during the 2000 tri series involving New Zealand and South Africa (where Ijaz Ahmad scored every time except the final) and the natwest series involving England and Australia. That match against England, when Trescothick scored a 123 and Afridi took that diving catch (in process dislocating Malik's shoulder for months). And Waqar's successive 7 fer and 6 fer in that series was a sight to behold.
Started following county cricket in 2005. Somerset was the team I supported and for some reason still support. They won t20 that year. They surprisingly won it this year too lol after an almost 2 decade gap. Would only mostly watch Pakistan's matches till then.
Got properly invested in test cricket during that English Summer. The tri series of Australia England and Bangladesh. Ban beating Australia in ODI. Ashes 2005, well, that still remains my favorite test series (as a neutral). After Ashes 2005, I just got addicted to cricket. Test Cricket became my favorite format.
Didn't watch much cricket in 2008-09 except Pakistan's matches and the wt20 due to studies and exams etc and Pak barely played any cricket in 2008 (I remember not a single test) Watched that wretched Asia Cup where Pak disappointed just like they did this year in wt20. Only followed that SA-Aus series (couldn't watch it due to schedule)

 

[sweep_shot]

1999 wc.
Got properly invested in bilaterals and ODIs during the 2000 tri series involving New Zealand and South Africa (where Ijaz Ahmad scored every time except the final) and the natwest series involving England and Australia. That match against England, when Trescothick scored a 123 and Afridi took that diving catch (in process dislocating Malik's shoulder for months). And Waqar's successive 7 fer and 6 fer in that series was a sight to behold.
Started following county cricket in 2005. Somerset was the team I supported and for some reason still support. They won t20 that year. They surprisingly won it this year too lol after an almost 2 decade gap. Would only mostly watch Pakistan's matches till then.
Got properly invested in test cricket during that English Summer. The tri series of Australia England and Bangladesh. Ban beating Australia in ODI. Ashes 2005, well, that still remains my favorite test series (as a neutral). After Ashes 2005, I just got addicted to cricket. Test Cricket became my favorite format.
Didn't watch much cricket in 2008-09 except Pakistan's matches and the wt20 due to studies and exams etc and Pak barely played any cricket in 2008 (I remember not a single test) Watched that wretched Asia Cup where Pak disappointed just like they did this year in wt20. Only followed that SA-Aus series (couldn't watch it due to schedule)

I personally think 1999 WC was the greatest World Cup of all time. It was entertaining throughout the tournament.

I say that because it had many of the legendary players at their peaks --> Donald, Jayasuriya, Saeed Anwar, Inzi, Wasim, Shoaib Akthar, Tendulkar, Dravid, Murali, Warne, McGrath, Walsh, Ambrose, Lara etc.

 

[Hitman]

Around 1992. Kapil Dev was my first hero in cricket.

 

[JaDed]

1996 Wc..thats why Sachin mattered the most to me and fav bowlers were all Pakistani and Proteas.

Didn’t like test cricket up until 1998 when Aus visited India and Sachin smacked Warne at Chennai.

Heart breaking loss was as a kid losing the WI tour when we had to hardly to chase nothing score in WI to make history, and that series used to be so late night, watched it with my uncle as it was summer or something.

 

[JaDed]

Saqlain ,Klusner, Akhtar, Wasim ,Warne the bowlers I and kids at school tried to copy.

No one ever copied Venkatesh Prassad , that should had been cue how bad he was.

 

[JaDed]

I probably watched a couple of years earlier but what I remember clearly is the WC 1992 Down Under with the cornered tigers, so you can say I started watching properly in 1992. The issue here in Norway was that that we only had two major foreign channels back then: CNN and BBC. And also watched the Test series between Pak and England in 1992 I think?

You are in Norway since 1992? I assumed Pakistani diaspora got accumulated in 2000s , it’s one of the only few countries which back then had more Pakistanis than Indians in West.

 

[IAJ]

You are in Norway since 1992? I assumed Pakistani diaspora got accumulated in 2000s , it’s one of the only few countries which back then had more Pakistanis than Indians in West.

I am acutally here since 1986 so I have my entire education from Norway, starting from primary school.

Actually the first batch of 'guest workers' from Pakistan arrived in late 1960s and early 1970s.

Our father came also here in late 60s.

 

[Devadwal]

From 1999 i was starting to learnt about international cricket but watched my first live game on neighbour black and white TV in 2002 ( India tour of WI where india were won the odi series)

I used to listen radio commentry in my initial cricketing days which was pleasing to listen those days.

 

[ElRaja]

a lot of people roughly the same age here, looks like the generation before us wasnt tech savvy, and the generation after not into forums, lol.

 

[IMMY69]

1979

I'm old

 

[JaDed]

a lot of people roughly the same age here, looks like the generation before us wasnt tech savvy, and the generation after not into forums, lol.

Many older than us users have stopped coming.. Robert Miandadrules etc they were part of this forum from 2001ish

 

[RidiculousMan]

Been watching Cricket since 2009 (thereabouts) but I only remember events starting from 2011.

 

[JaDed]

1979

I'm old

It’s very intriguing that cricket kept you interested all these years, I have already started losing interest , even the T20 wc win meant nothing to me except some bragging rights on this forum

 

[RidiculousMan]

a lot of people roughly the same age here, looks like the generation before us wasnt tech savvy, and the generation after not into forums, lol.

I'm generation after. But I was and am into forums. Perhaps I'm the exception because none of my friends growing up were into forums.

 

[JaDed]

a lot of people roughly the same age here, looks like the generation before us wasnt tech savvy, and the generation after not into forums, lol.

They are into Reddit forums, most Indian and Pakistanis discuss cricket on that now.
There is a even a post criticising this forum lol blaming Saj for randomly something.

 

[RidiculousMan]

here is a even a post criticising this forum lol blaming Saj for randomly something.

Lmao. Now I need to see

 

[JaDed]

Lmao. Now I need to see

Just google Pakpassion reddit forums.

 

[JaDed]

Been watching Cricket since 2009 (thereabouts) but I only remember events starting from 2011.

You missed the worst time to be an Indian fan in 1990s and best one to be a Pakistani one.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Just google Pakpassion reddit forums.

I found one It's hilarious. Calling us all dinosaurs


But I will say Ahmed Shehzad doesn't deserve support

 

[RidiculousMan]

You missed the worst time to be an Indian fan in 1990s and best one to be a Pakistani one.

But I'm here for the next best era under Rizwan Kaptana!

 

[IMMY69]

It’s very intriguing that cricket kept you interested all these years, I have already started losing interest , even the T20 wc win meant nothing to me except some bragging rights on this forum

For me the very best days were listening to test matches with my grandfather on the radio.
We listened to BBC Radio for the English test matches and he had a long wave radio that allowed us to listen to test matches in Pakistan.

He'd make a pot of tea and we'd be up at 5am listening the Karachi or Lahore test matches...

 

[JaDed]

For me the very best days were listening to test matches with my grandfather on the radio.
We listened to BBC Radio for the English test matches and he had a long wave radio that allowed us to listen to test matches in Pakistan.

He'd make a pot of tea and we'd be up at 5am listening the Karachi or Lahore test matches...

Wonderful core memories to have.

 

[Hitman]

Saqlain ,Klusner, Akhtar, Wasim ,Warne the bowlers I and kids at school tried to copy.

No one ever copied Venkatesh Prassad , that should had been cue how bad he was.

Venkatesh Prasad has influenced more young fast bowlers in India till date than anyone else. The logic being, 'If Prasad can become a fast bowler and play International cricket for India, I can do it as well beyond question'.

 

[IMMY69]

Wonderful core memories to have.

Best part was after the game/days play.
Our friends would meet up at the top of the road or in the local park and have a game of tennis ball cricket...

Kids these days just get on their PlayStation or whatever gizmo there is and play a game together online.

Todays world has many innovations that has undoubtedly enriched the lives of everyone but I am convinced that my time growing up was one of the best..
If you wanted to learn, you'd walk to the library... if you needed to phone home you'd walk to the nearest phone box... a richer, healthier lifestyle

 

[aboveandbeyond]

2005 Ashes series .

 

[JaDed]

Best part was after the game/days play.
Our friends would meet up at the top of the road or in the local park and have a game of tennis ball cricket...

Kids these days just get on their PlayStation or whatever gizmo there is and play a game together online.

Todays world has many innovations that has undoubtedly enriched the lives of everyone but I am convinced that my time growing up was one of the best..
If you wanted to learn, you'd walk to the library... if you needed to phone home you'd walk to the nearest phone box... a richer, healthier lifestyle

The tennis ball thing was in my time as well, we will go out in the apartments or next day at school and imitate our fav players during sports time.

I remember kids wearing cool cheap shades and putting sunscreen (This was Chennai, India) so every small thing was a big thing and gave us happiness.

 

[JaDed]

The most I miss about watching cricket is how my attention was there during the entire game, every advertisement or every stat just got stored in my brain by just seeing TV, nowadays I’m like meh, cricket is always on scorecards or highlights no time at all for live TV games.I can’t even recall all our performances in 2023 and 2024 Wcs.. such a passive watch nowadays.

I did listen to radio for many cricket games when parents would be driving or when no power at home, radio ads were so much more entertaining and catchier.

 

[sweep_shot]

They are into Reddit forums, most Indian and Pakistanis discuss cricket on that now.
There is a even a post criticising this forum lol blaming Saj for randomly something.

They are also on Discord.

 

[sweep_shot]

a lot of people roughly the same age here, looks like the generation before us wasnt tech savvy, and the generation after not into forums, lol.

Agree.

It seems like most users here are millennials.

 

[big_gamer007]

I vividly remember watching 1992 World Cup but was too young to remember any games.

1996 World Cup is my first recollection of cricket I still remember to this day.

 

[JaDed]

They are also on Discord.

Yeah I know Discord doesn’t feel like a forum though, more like slack zoom teams kind of feel.

 

[sweep_shot]

I vividly remember watching 1992 World Cup but was too young to remember any games.

1996 World Cup is my first recollection of cricket I still remember to this day.

I watched highlights of 1996 WC. It didn't seem that exciting.

 

[Hitman]

I vividly remember watching 1992 World Cup but was too young to remember any games.

1996 World Cup is my first recollection of cricket I still remember to this day.

The Ind vs Pak match in that WC remains the most memorable ODI match in my life till date. That was the day when Ajay Jadeja truly earned my respect, which he then managed to flush down the toilet.

 

[JaDed]

I watched highlights of 1996 WC. It didn't seem that exciting.

Blashphemy, The WI vs Aus semis was one of the best KO games ever, even the final was overall better than the 99 one.
WI losing to Kenya was a highlight as well, not to forget our infamous loss but the good Amir Sohail -Prassad battle

 

[JaDed]

The Ind vs Pak match in that WC remains the most memorable ODI match in my life till date. That was the day when Ajay Jadeja truly earned my respect, which he then managed to flush down the toilet.

Ironic I missed that game and instead saw the Indian-Sl one , I was so sad WI lost against Aus .. man I have always liked Carribbeans.

 

[Hitman]

Ironic I missed that game and instead saw the Indian-Sl one , I was so sad WI lost against Aus .. man I have always liked Carribbeans.

Why did you miss that match?

 

[JaDed]

Why did you miss that match?

I was a kid probably out somewhere with my mother.. I remember not being home, remember no one being outside though lol, I hadn’t developed passion yet..

 

[sweep_shot]

Blashphemy, The WI vs Aus semis was one of the best KO games ever, even the final was overall better than the 99 one.
WI losing to Kenya was a highlight as well, not to forget our infamous loss but the good Amir Sohail -Prassad battle

Compared to 1992 and 1999, 1996 WC felt a bit lightweight.

Anyway, I didn't watch 1992 and 1996 WCs live. I only watched highlights.

My first WC was the 1999 edition.

 

[JaDed]

Compared to 1992 and 1999, 1996 WC felt a bit lightweight.

Anyway, I didn't watch 1992 and 1996 WCs live. I only watched highlights.

My first WC was the 1999 edition.

1992 was full of rain the entire tournament became interesting only in KO and again one KO it rained..
It definitely had better final compared to other two.

After group stages 1999 had one good game of SA vs Aus..entire super six was snooze fest.

1996 the entire tournament remained interesting and on edge except one semi final of ours.

2011 wc and 2019 wc had most close games throughout the tournament.

 

[sweep_shot]

1992 was full of rain the entire tournament became interesting only in KO and again one KO it rained..
It definitely had better final compared to other two.

After group stages 1999 had one good game of SA vs Aus..entire super six was snooze fest.

1996 the entire tournament remained interesting and on edge except one semi final of ours.

2011 wc and 2019 wc had most close games throughout the tournament.

1999 WC had some great games.

South Africa vs Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe won)
Zimbabwe vs India (Zimbabwe won)
South Africa vs Australia (semi-final)
Pakistan vs Australia (group stage)
Pakistan vs West Indies
India vs South Africa
Pakistan vs Bangladesh

It was entertaining overall.

I always like ICC events hosted in England. Best vibe.

 

[sweep_shot]

After group stages 1999 had one good game of SA vs Aus..entire super six was snooze fest.

Disagree.

There were some great Super Six games. Pakistan vs South Africa was very good, for example. Klusener won it for South Africa.

I think you are downplaying 1999 WC because India did poorly in that WC and Pakistan reached final.

 

[JaDed]

Disagree.

There were some great Super Six games. Pakistan vs South Africa was very good, for example. Klusener won it for South Africa.

I think you are downplaying 1999 WC because India did poorly in that WC and Pakistan reached final.

Aren’t you downplaying 1996, I gave my reasons for it.. plus i rather take 1999 wc as an Indian than 1996.
Anyhow this argument is for another thread.
I only dislike 2007 and my reason for that alone is poor performance plus the time (I was back in India then).

I like IcC tournaments in SA and Aus over Eng could be that’s where we differ on cricket.

 

[JaDed]

Talking about SA , SA cricket is in my earliest memories as well, I always loved watching cricket in SA , India’s tour in 1996-97 were Klusner scored his first test ton was remarkable, a big Phainty is what we got from numerous allrounders of SA.

Dravid had a good tour scored his first ton and man could never do well overall again in SA.

Paul Adams the weirdest action of all bowlers ever!

 

[big_gamer007]

The Ind vs Pak match in that WC remains the most memorable ODI match in my life till date. That was the day when Ajay Jadeja truly earned my respect, which he then managed to flush down the toilet.

Haha bro, that match was epic. So I was watching with my parents, I think it was after school so watched Pakistan innings and Pakistan were cruising and my mom had tied a knot and all for all the totkas haha.
I climbed up the almirah, in those days we had iron almirahs and I climbed up and suddenly Aamir Sohail got out, then my parents made me sit on top of almirah and watch match till we won. I wasn’t allowed to get Down haha.

Next day in school or whenever it was next time I went to school everyone shared their stories on how they made India win by doing totkas.

Amazing times, cricket was really fun back then now it’s just too boring.

 

[big_gamer007]

I watched highlights of 1996 WC. It didn't seem that exciting.

Highlights are never exciting, IMO the most memorable test series is Ashes 2005 which England won, however, if I watch the highlights today it would pale in comparison to watching a close well fought test series live.

Highlights never do justice to the emotions you feel watching any sports live.

That’s human nature not just related to cricket.

As a kid that World Cup was amazing, so was 99 WC, after that once you reach teenage years, the interest and passion declines and you find other passions/interest. Then slowly as you grow old you move away from being an innocent kid whose biggest worry in life at that time was whether your favourite team will win or not to being a grown up who looks at old memories with nostalgia knowing you won’t ever feel the same way again.

 

[sweep_shot]

Highlights are never exciting, IMO the most memorable test series is Ashes 2005 which England won, however, if I watch the highlights today it would pale in comparison to watching a close well fought test series live.

Highlights never do justice to the emotions you feel watching any sports live.

That’s human nature not just related to cricket.

As a kid that World Cup was amazing, so was 99 WC, after that once you reach teenage years, the interest and passion declines and you find other passions/interest. Then slowly as you grow old you move away from being an innocent kid whose biggest worry in life at that time was whether your favourite team will win or not to being a grown up who looks at old memories with nostalgia knowing you won’t ever feel the same way again.

Yes. Agree.

Highlights don't give us full pictures. It doesn't give us contexts/vibes of that time.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

90s I can't remember specifically when but I do remember the 99 world cup got be completely hooked and cricket became the main sport I watched instead of football. Anyone who saw Shoaib bowl in that WC will remember just how epic a sight it was


Pakistan cricket is a big part of my childhood and early years and it's my connection to many of my elders, friends etc some of whom who have passed on.

I think I will always follow Pakistan cricket but have vowed not to pass on this curse of following sports teams to my kids lol. Too much tension.

 

[Amjid Javed]

1987 - 1st series I watched was pakistans 1st ever test series win in England.

 

[sweep_shot]

My top 5 favorite series since I started to watch cricket:

1) Ashes 2005 (this is my most favorite cricket series of all time)
2) Pakistan vs India 2004 Jeet Lo Dil Series
3) Pakistan vs India 2005 ODI series (Pakistan won 4-2)
4) Australia vs India 2004 Test series (Aussies won in India)
5) Sharjah Cup 2000 (Pakistan beat South Africa in the final)

My top 5 favorite cricket moments since I started to watch cricket:

1) Simon Jones bowling Michael Clarke out (Ashes 2005). It was poetic to watch.
2) Flintoff's spell against Ricky Ponting (Ashes 2005).
3) Shoaib Akthar's spell against Australia in 2002 Colombo Test. Aussies won but Shoaib was superb.
4) Maxwell's 201* in 2023 WC. He did that despite struggling with cramp. Simply amazing.
5) Shahid Afridi's 37-ball century.

 

[sweep_shot]

1) Simon Jones bowling Michael Clarke out (Ashes 2005). It was poetic to watch.

This was what I was talking about:

Michael Clarke had great techniques. He didn't get out like this very often. Simon Jones made him look silly.