The Hindu : Pakistani fans fall for Indian heroes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 25, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Pakistani fans fall for Indian heroes

LAHORE, MARCH 24. There has been a sudden spurt in the sale of posters of Indian cricketers in Pakistan, who have become hot favourites not only among the younger generation here but also among all age groups, including women.

The posters of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh are most in demand and vendors can be seen selling them in the streets and near playgrounds.

Even some of the big stores in marketplaces are selling these posters. Cricket enthusiasts throng these outlets to pick a poster for themselves since most of the Pakistanis believe that cricket is more than a game between the two nations.

Impressed with Tendulkar's dashing batting, a young fan said: "He is a world-class player and my hero.'' He said like Pakistan players, Indian cricketers were equally famous and many of his friends had pasted photographs of Indian players in their rooms and gymnasiums.

Saqlain develops new `doosra'

Saqlain Mushtaq, who introduced the off-spinners' googly or the `doosra' to international cricket, is developing a `teesra' (the third one) in a bid to win back a place in the Pakistan team.

Saqlain, 27, said he hoped the new variation would help him return during a three-Test series against India, starting in Multan on March 28.

``I've realised it's necessary to keep on bringing variations into your bowling to survive in the hectic world of international cricket,'' he said.— PTI/ANI/Reuters

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