Indian cricketers of the stature of Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav can make it to the headlines of media publications for myriad reasons which does not necessarily have to be related to their on-field performances. However, not many would have expected them to be in the limelight for an off-the-field issue ahead of a high-octane India-Pakistan ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 clash.
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With the Narendra Modi Stadium likely to host a record number of spectators ever in a cricket match today, the demand for tickets continue to soar high despite only a few hours left before the lip-smacking contest. Thus, Kohli, and most recently Yadav, had to take to their respective Instagram handles to request their friends and acquaintances to not inquire for any match tickets and enjoy the fixture from the comfort of their homes.
While one can empathize with the situation the two find themselves in, it should also be brought to light how former India captain MS Dhoni used to hand out free tickets to fans especially during India-Pakistan World Cup matches. In fact, a certain popular Pakistani fan was spoilt to the extent of becoming over-reliant on Dhoni with respect to securing match tickets ahead of quite a few such clashes in the past.
MS Dhoni Used To Gift Tickets To Fans For IND vs PAK Matches
Karachi-born resident of Chicago (USA) Mohammad Bashir Bozai, an ardent Dhoni fan, is one of the very few Pakistani fans who have arrived in India to witness the ongoing World Cup. In fact, he might well be the only fan cheering for the neighboring country in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Popular as ‘Bashir Chacha‘ or ‘Chicago Chacha‘, he has perhaps been fortunate and blessed enough to have had an apparently inaccessible Dhoni go all the way to have his match tickets booked free of cost. The first time he had received the same from the legendary skipper was during the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali.
Three years later, during ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh, Bashir Chacha had again arrived without a ticket in his hand. Dhoni did not disappoint him yet another time and handed him a ticket to watch the India-Sri Lanka final in Dhaka.
“[MS] Dhoni is familiar with my face as he has seen me before the Champions Trophy’s Indo-Pak game in Birmingham. I told him that I don’t have a ticket to watch the finals. Dhoni then called some ‘Kaka’ [trainer Ramesh Mane or ‘Mane Kaka’] and told him to arrange for my ticket. Kaka promptly gave me a complimentary pass. I am completely moved by his gesture,” remarked Bashir during an interaction with PTI in April 2014.
Having survived three heart attacks, the then 63-year-old had then traveled approximately 6,000 km from Chicago to Manchester to watch the India-Pakistan ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 clash, yet again without a ticket as he was already assured of it.
“I don’t call him [MS Dhoni] as he is so busy. I keep in touch only through text messages. Long before I came here, Dhoni assured me of the ticket. He is a great human being. Imagine I get the ticket for free when most would pay a fortune for it,” Bashir had told PTI in June 2019.
Chicago Chacha’s bond with Dhoni is such that he was left heart-broken when the latter had announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020. As a result, he, too, had claimed to have retired from travelling for cricket altogether. However, the decision had to be reversed during the following year’s T20 World Cup after Dhoni was appointed as India’s mentor.
Virat Kohli And Suryakumar Yadav Avoid Ticketing Requests
Nine days after Kohli had requested fans to not ask him for any of 2023 World Cup match tickets, Yadav came up with a similar message today. While Kohli had pleaded his friends before the commencement of the tournament itself, a similar request from Yadav arrived with respect to a clash between arch-rivals.
It should not be a surprise if the two have indeed been receiving innumerable match tickets requests considering how BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has proceeded with World Cup ticket sales approach in a careless and insensitive manner. In fact, not only the cricketers, but even journalists have been apparently receiving scores of messages for such requests for various matches.
While the fans’ sentiments and passion can be completely justified, it is perhaps not humanely possible for people, regardless of their status and hierarchy in the ecosystem, to arrange tickets for such a match at the drop of a hat.
As for the cricketers, they have their priorities set with eyes set on the achievement of a defined goal. Arranging tickets at such a time will only to do them more harm than good. Pleasing people with their humility is the last thing that they should be thinking about ahead of and during a World Cup.
