New Delhi: Move over sledges, Pakistan’s goodwill express has left the station, and fans are cheering in delight. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test match against Australia, in true festive spirit, Pakistani captain Shan Masood led his team in a pre-match overture that is melting hearts across the cricketing universe.
In a heartwarming video now gone viral, Pakistani players can be seen presenting gifts and candies to Aussie cricketing stars and their families.
Australian captain Pat Cummins applauded the gesture, calling it ‘kind and thoughtful’.
“That was great. A Merry Christmas gift and lollipops for the kids. We’ve got a really good relationship with the Pakistan side”, he was quoted as saying.
Warm wishes and heartfelt gifts for the Australian players and their families at the MCG indoor nets 🎁✨ pic.twitter.com/u43mJEpBTR
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 25, 2023
While fans appreciated the gesture in comments under the Pakistan Cricket Board’s posts on X and YouTube, Reddit users had fun coming up with imaginative scenarios.
“They should lace the candy with laxatives, hope the Aussies eat them, then send them out to bowl tomorrow,” a Reddit user wrote.
In reply, another said, “Imagine how much it would backfire if they lost though. I can see the headlines now. ‘Incontinent Aussies defeat incompetent Pakistan’.”
Another pointed out how Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne is seen laughing in the video, and added, “he loves lollipops”, to which another replied, “He is among the kids Pat mentioned”.
What about cricketing performance?
Pakistan’s loss in the first Test of the three-match series wasn’t off-topic for the fans. A user wrote, “Pakistan in Australia. Giving gifts to children. Giving WTC points to Australia.”
On X, Pakistani fans brought their trademark humour to the event, in line with the Christmas spirit.
“Isi baat pe ek match haar ke humein bhi gift dedo Pat Bhai (on that note, please lose a match as a goodwill gift to us, Pat brother),” a user tweeted.
Brilliant gesture from @TheRealPCB.
You can listen to the Boxing Day Test on 5 Sports Extra & @BBCSounds from 11pm tonight. #bbccricket #AUSvPAK https://t.co/KVcb7oj22M
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) December 25, 2023
Saddened over Pakistan’s dismal performance, another said, “Wait aussies, the captain shan masood will gift you the QB trophy this week.”
But the ‘concerns’ varied. A user wondered about the use of gifting a lollipop, saying that a better gift would have been atta (wheat). For another, Cummins is now Pakistan’s bestie. One requested the Australian pacer to let Pakistan win a match. “See pat Cummins how good we are,” the user said, with a pretty “please”.
Pakistan is a team grappling with a formidable 15-match Test losing streak. Adding to the woes, spinner Noman Ali has joined the casualty list, becoming the second player during the tournament to be forced to withdraw from the series due to illness and injury. Meanwhile, Australia remains unchanged, sticking to the same XI.
Like a Pakistani Redditer pointed out, “We may not win the matches or the tournaments but we do win (at least some) hearts.”
Australia too has responded. Abdul Ghaffar, the sports editor of Dawn, tweeted that while the Boxing Day tickets had seen record sales, Cricket Australia has announced the establishment of a ”dedicated Pakistan Fan Zone” outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“This fan-centric area named as “The Outfield,” is set to transform into a vibrant “Cricket Mela” for Pakistan supporters. Attendees can look forward to a cultural extravaganza featuring Karachi food trucks, traditional Char Pai’s, and the tape ball cricket, creating an immersive experience for fans to celebrate their passion for cricket,” he said.
(Edited by Prashant)