Cricket buff or not, you probably know about the World Cup match between India and England at Edgbaston yesterday. It was crucial not just for the hosts, but also for Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The English side needed to win to keep their semifinal hopes alive and a victory for the Men in Blue meant that other teams from the subcontinent stood a fighting chance.
The clash ended with England beating India by 31 runs and Sri Lanka being knocked out of the semifinals.
England fans right now 🕺#CWC19 | #ENGvIND | #WeAreEngland pic.twitter.com/WXOieyz2Qb
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 30, 2019
But the game had Pakistani fans wholeheartedly cheering for their neighbours showing the true spirit of cricket. In essence, yesterday’s match was something like this.
Todays Situation XD#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/18LwFfj0st
— HANDSOME PM (@HandsomePM) June 30, 2019
They cheered for all 5 of Mohammad Shami’s wickets and also for the short but important innings of skipper Virat Kohli (66), Rishabh Pant (32) and Hardik Pandya (45).
Even earlier, when Nasser Hussain had questioned fans as to their allegiance in Sunday’s game, the Twitterati from across the border had risen in unison to proclaim that they’d be supporting their neighbours against the English.
And this sentiment gave birth to many hilarious jokes and memes. Here are the best ones.
https://twitter.com/BollywoodGandu/status/1145207765624692737
Is this the first time the whole of Pakistan 🇵🇰 will be cheering for India 🇮🇳!? #CWC19
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/viratfanalways/status/1145263711877074945
England unites India-Pakistan! @NewIndianXpress cartoon #IndvsEng #pakistancricket pic.twitter.com/p31Leor8Rv
— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) June 30, 2019
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand today versus England.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/MVP3xjNs4i
— Suhel Banerjee (@suhel) June 30, 2019
India and Pakistan today: #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/uNGGYctwER
— 🍂 (@witchnextdoor_) June 30, 2019
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka when India loose wicket.#ENGvsIND#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/6fy3Dly9FM
— Gulshan Laassi (@gulshanlassi) June 30, 2019
Worldcup equation.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/4DIay5cV8v
— Dissapointment🌹 (@yahyahussnain_) June 30, 2019
Scenarios of today's #IndvEng match:
Indian fans: Ekadh match haar bhi jaye to koi fark nahi padega.
Pakistan fans: COME ONNN INDIAAAAAA.
— IamMathur (@yogeshwermathur) June 30, 2019
Pakistan cricket fans talking about team India. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/8PwZQ0U90p
— Aditii🎀 (@Sassy_Soul_) June 30, 2019
Scenes today 😂😂😶#INDvENG @cricketaakash @vikrantgupta73 pic.twitter.com/KA5plPxWxa
— Saurav Sahani (@SahaniSaurav) June 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/Hermxxni/status/1145273761324654595
Generally, on the field, both India and Pakistan are seen as arch-rivals but yesterday’s match united fans from both nations like nothing else ever could. It certainly is true when they say that sport is a big unifier, isn’t it?