Pakistan Cricket Obsession A Passion Beyond Borders

Pakistanis’ love for cricket is no secret. Wherever in the world you meet a Pakistani, the conversation often begins with cricket. While Pakistani cricketers have played a vital role in earning the country global respect, Pakistani fans have been just as influential, consistently standing out for their passion, loyalty, and unmatched enthusiasm.

There was a time when an elderly man, so consumed by his love for cricket, sold his house and spent all the money on match tickets. He later became famously known as “Chacha Cricket.” Over the years, iconic fans such as Mr. Pakistan, the Pakistani Hulk, and many other devoted supporters emerged—fans who would travel to any corner of the world to support Pakistan. Among them is Tariq Naveed, remembered in Australia for purchasing nearly a thousand tickets to cheer for Pakistan.

Time has passed, but Pakistanis’ love for cricket has never faded. And no cricket story feels complete without the mention of a Pakistan–India clash. The world witnessed this passion firsthand during the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, when the stadium was packed beyond capacity for the high-voltage encounter between the two rivals.

So powerful was this display of fan devotion that Cricket Australia reportedly offered to host a Test series between Pakistan and India on Australian soil. Pakistan accepted the proposal, while India declined. Pakistan Cricket Obsession A Passion Beyond Borders

This same cricket obsession has now written a new chapter in Australia. A professional pharmacist, Irfan Hashmi, alongside running his pharmacy business, established the Australian Pavilion Sports Museum, which is soon set to become part of a major cultural museum in the city of Adelaide.

Cricket passion has even created friendly rivalries within the Pakistani community in Australia. In Melbourne, Pakistanis predominantly support the Melbourne Stars, while in Adelaide, the community rallies behind the Adelaide Strikers.

Driven by their love for Melbourne Stars and Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf, the Pak Ozzy Club purchased 1,000 tickets for the upcoming clash. In response, Pakistani cricket fans in Adelaide—led by Irfan Hashmi—also bought 1,000 tickets to support Hasan Ali and the Adelaide Strikers.

This highly anticipated contest between Melbourne Stars and Adelaide Strikers will take place on December 18 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and is being hailed as one of the most important matches of the Big Bash League season.

To capture the excitement surrounding the match and the growing influence of Pakistani fans, we spoke with Azhar Kamal and Asad Muqaddam from Pak Ozzy Club, as well as Irfan Hashmi from the Australian Pavilion. Both organizations are confident of victory for their respective teams, with all eyes firmly fixed on the performances of Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf.

Now, only time will tell which team emerges victorious. But regardless of the result, one thing is certain: the rising involvement of Pakistanis in Australia’s local cricket scene—using sport as a means to unite communities and promote positive engagement—is a powerful and commendable story in itself.
Reporting for Voice of Australia by Sajid Toori