Pakistani supporters were left in a state of despondency on Monday following their team's defeat to their long-standing rivals, India, exacerbating the gloom surrounding their T20 World Cup efforts. Some fans have written off the campaign as a lost endeavour after a mere two games.
"In the military town of Rawalpindi, one disheartened fan pronounced the end of Pakistan's cricketing journey," remarked a spectator, amidst a crowd that deserted a public screening prematurely, even before the match reached its conclusion.
As dusk descended on Sunday, an eager throng filled the 15,000-capacity Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, anticipating a much-needed triumph for Captain Babar Azam's squad, who were playing a world away in New York.
Yet, the match unfolded as a nail-biting low-scorer, with India securing a victory over Pakistan by a mere six runs on a challenging pitch. In the wake of the defeat, as the clock struck midnight, vexed fans expressed their ire, launching plastic bottles at the screens.
"Fate, it seems, had other plans," shared a crestfallen 26-year-old Ahsan Ullah with the media, as fans vacated the stadium with heavy hearts.
This disappointment follows closely on the heels of Pakistan's shocking loss to the USA last Thursday, where the tournament's co-hosts and newcomers outplayed the 2022 finalists and 2009 champions in a gripping Super Over showdown in Texas.
The cricketing rivalry between Pakistan and India is one of the most intense in international sports.
Cricket reigns supreme as the most beloved sport in both nations, home to a combined populace exceeding 1.6 billion.
Their matches draw colossal viewership, though the teams only cross paths in major tournaments or neutral venues due to enduring political strife.
The recent match marked the 13th encounter in the shortest format of cricket between the two nuclear-armed adversaries, with India now leading, having triumphed in ten of those matches. The depth of the rivalry was such that India's national anthem was silenced on the big screens at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where eager fans had lined up despite a rain-delayed start.
As the game commenced, green spotlights swept the skies, and Pakistani flags fluttered in stands named for legendary players like Imran Khan and Shoaib Akhtar.
The atmosphere was electric with whistles, chants, and cheers during the initial overs, but as midnight came and went, the mood turned sombre as Pakistan struggled to chase India's target of 119 runs.
Pakistan's upcoming fixtures include a match against Canada in New York on Thursday, followed by a clash with Ireland in Florida on Sunday.
Despite the setbacks, there remains a possibility for them to progress to the Super Eight stage of the tournament, jointly hosted by the USA and West Indies, with the final scheduled for Barbados on the 29th of June.
