Friendship bonds India-Pakistan fans despite rivalry | The Daily Star
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019
Afp, Manchester
Sun Jun 16, 2019 03:23 PM
Last update on: Sun Jun 16, 2019 03:28 PM

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India and Pakistan may be preparing for a high-stakes World Cup match on Sunday but one Pakistan supporter made sure an Indian super-fan does not miss out on the occasion.

Sudhir Kumar has become a cult hero in India for painting his body in the colours of the Indian flag and his devotion to the now-retired Sachin Tendulkar, whose name he sports across his chest.

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"I called Sudhir from Chicago, USA, asking him what support he wanted," Pakistan-supporting Mohammad Basheer Buzai, 63, told AFP.

"My wife is from Hyderabad Deccan so I have to support both, Pakistan for myself and India for my wife.

"I got Sudhir an air ticket and a mobile phone so that he can save his World Cup memories."

Former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni may have millions of fans, but Basheer takes pride in his links to Dhoni, who arranges match tickets for him.

"It was during the 2011 World Cup in India that Dhoni gave me a ticket and since then he arranges my ticket. When the team came to Manchester he promised that I will get Sunday's ticket," said Basheer.

Sudhir, 38, from Muzaffarpur in the northern state of Bihar, said: "Basheer is always a great help."

But he teases Basheer about India's dominance over Pakistan at World Cups, with India having won all six previous meetings.

"Pakistan cannot beat India in a World Cup match," said Sudhir. "Off the field we are good friends but on the field we are fierce rivals and will not spare the Pakistan team."

Basheer hopes the bond remains, irrespective of the result on Sunday at Old Trafford.

"We come to the ground together, sit together in the stand and chant slogans... but at the end of the day it's the love we share that counts," he said.

"I hope both the countries come closer and cricket has that power to bring people closer."

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For over a century, Bollywood has been the cornerstone of India's visual media landscape, capturing the hearts of the country's Hindi-speaking population. This dominance often leads to the assumption that Bollywood actors are the highest-paid in India. However, in recent years, the success of films like "Baahubali", "RRR", "Pushpa", and "Arjun Reddy", among others, have flipped the script. 

South Indian cinema has garnered nationwide acclaim, attracting audiences with its compelling narratives and high-octane action. These films have long held a cult status across India, paving the way for South Indian actors to rise to prominence among the highest earners in the industry. In fact, the top 10 highest-paid Indian actors are predominantly from South Indian film industries.

Forbes, using IMDb data, recently revealed the list of the top 10 highest-paid Indian actors, showcasing a blend of talent from Bollywood and South Indian cinema. Shah Rukh Khan clearly tops the table with a wide margin; while Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Allu Arjun, Akshay Kumar, and Rajinikanth also feature prominently in the list.

Shah Rukh Khan: Rs 6300 crore net worth

Known as Bollywood's King Khan, Shah Rukh Khan has had his share of flops, but his recent successes, "Jawan" and "Pathaan", both grossing over Rs 2000 crores worldwide, reassert his dominance. His latest film, "Dunki", continues to perform well, cementing his status as Bollywood's highest-paid star.

Salman Khan: Rs 2900 crore net worth

Salman Khan, evolving from a romantic lead to a beloved 'bhai,' remains one of India's top-paid actors. His recent release, "Tiger 3", has grossed over Rs 466.63 crore worldwide.

Shah Rukh Khan tops as India’s richest actor with Rs 6300cr net worth
Photo: Collected

Akshay Kumar: Rs 2500 crore net worth

Akshay Kumar is renowned for his comedic roles and socially relevant films. While 2023 lacked major hits, "OMG 2", featuring him in a guest role, grossed Rs 221 crore worldwide.

Shah Rukh Khan tops as India’s richest actor with Rs 6300cr net worth
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Aamir Khan: Rs 1862 crore net worth

Aamir Khan, dubbed Mr Perfectionist, is celebrated for his meticulous approach to filmmaking. While "Laal Singh Chaddha" underperformed, he aims for a comeback with "Sitaare Zameen Par" this year, following his previous hits like "Dangal" and "PK".

Shah Rukh Khan tops as India’s richest actor with Rs 6300cr net worth
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Joseph Vijay: Rs 474 crore net worth

Thalapathy Vijay, another top South Indian actor, has a career spanning over two decades. His 2023 films, "Varisu" and "Leo", grossed Rs 300 crore and Rs 612 crore worldwide, respectively, with "Leo" being the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year.

Rajinikanth: Rs 430 crore net worth

Rajinikanth, a revered figure in South India, commands immense respect and adulation. Known officially as Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, he primarily stars in Tamil films. His recent hit, "Jailer", saw him earn Rs 110 crores.

Shah Rukh Khan tops as India’s richest actor with Rs 6300cr net worth
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Allu Arjun: Rs 350 crore net worth

Best known for his role in "Pushpa: The Rise", Allu Arjun is set to break records with the upcoming sequel, "Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2".

Prabhas: Rs 241 crore net worth

Prabhas soared to fame with the "Baahubali" series. Despite the controversy surrounding "Adipurush", his latest film, "Salaar", grossed Rs 369.37 crore domestically, outperforming Rajinikanth's "Jailer".

Ajith Kumar: Rs 196 crore net worth

Ajith Kumar, another top South Indian actor, impressed audiences with his 2023 release, "Thunivu", which earned Rs 130 crores in India.

Kamal Hassan: Rs 150 crore net worth

Kamal Hassan has appeared in around 220 films. His fans eagerly await his next film, "KH 234", directed by Mani Ratnam.

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Star Cineplex doubles shows for ‘Toofan’

These actors, hailing from both Bollywood and South Indian cinema, represent the pinnacle of Indian film talent, showcasing their widespread appeal and box office prowess across the country and beyond.

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Australia captain Aaron Finch is relishing a "blockbuster" Cricket World Cup semi-final against England at Edgbaston on Thursday but injury concerns threaten to derail the plans of the defending champions.

Finch's side slipped to a 10-run defeat to already-eliminated South Africa in their final round-robin fixture at Old Trafford on Saturday, a result that saw them knocked off top spot in the table.

It means they now face the host nation in the semi-finals, while India will take on a New Zealand side that has stumbled into the knockout stages with some indifferent performances.

Australia had already lost Shaun Marsh for the remainder of the World Cup prior and now look likely to be without another top order batsman in Usman Khawaja after he suffered a hamstring injury while batting.

All-rounder Marcus Stoinis needed treatment for a back issue and will also undergo scans on Sunday, while fast bowler Mitchell Starc had an off-day with the ball and did not appear to be moving too freely either.

"It doesn't look ideal for Usman Khawaja at the moment, but we will have to wait and see," Finch told reporters in the wake of the South Africa loss.

"He will have a scan in the morning and then we will make a call based on what the results are.

"(With Stoinis) we are not sure ... at the moment he feels okay, but until you get the definitive scans, it is tough to know."

The selectors have already brought batsman Peter Handscomb into the squad following the loss of Marsh, who was originally included in the squad as cover for Khawaja.

Fortunately the Australia A side is also on tour in England with Matt Wade, a veteran of 94 international one-dayers, in fine form with the bat.

"If they need to be replaced, which I should imagine Usman will, there are plenty of guys who have been playing some good one-day cricket," Finch said.

There is no doubt that Australia would have preferred a semi-final against New Zealand, leaving title rivals England and India to battle it out for a final spot, but they must now take on the hosts at one of their favourite venues.

"It's going to be a blockbuster, it doesn't get much bigger than Australia-England in a World Cup semi-final," Finch said.

"Edgbaston is a beautiful ground to play at and the fans are always entertaining down there. It's going to be a great atmosphere." 

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At the business end of a tournament, skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was once more faced with an all-too-familiar hurdle. In the last two ICC 50-over tournaments, it was India that stopped Bangladesh's march -- in the 2015 World Cup quarterfinal and the 2017 Champions Trophy semifinal. After an impressive run in the ongoing World Cup, Mashrafe and Co are left having to win against India today to stay alive in the race to the semifinals.

Mashrafe was under no illusions about the size of the task at hand when speaking at the pre-match press conference in Birmingham yesterday.

"Look, every time we play, we want to win, but India were the better side in the last few World Cups," Mashrafe said when asked about his team's chances. "We go out onto the field to play at our best, and let's see. You never know. If you have a very good day, play every area, and if we are 100 percent correct, then you never know. It's a sport that on your day you can beat anybody."

All sportsmen present a veneer of confidence ahead of a contest, but Mashrafe seemed to struggle to maintain his.

"I'm not surprised," Mashrafe answered when asked whether he expected the team to last this long in the World Cup. "I think there's not too much left. We have to play at our best. If we can manage to win, that will be great, but to be honest, both sides [India and Pakistan, their next opponents] are very strong. It's not going to be easy, but we have to play hard and have to be 100 percent in every area. Good thing that we're still in the tournament, maybe, maybe not [after tomorrow], but let's see. We have to play a lot better than what we have played."

And that is the nature of the challenge facing Bangladesh. Most observers have been impressed by Bangladesh's progress through the tournament -- beating West Indies, South Africa and Afghanistan and almost beating New Zealand. But with how the teams stack up -- India have the most varied bowling attack and the best players of spin bowling, Bangladesh's strength -- Mashrafe knew that his team would have to play even better to stand a chance against the 2011 and 1983 champions.

"Whenever we have beaten big teams, I don't think we have ever won by playing well in one department," Mashrafe said when asked if there was one area in which he would put Bangladesh ahead of India. "It has always been batting, bowling and fielding. If we can do well in all sectors, then of course we can win."

There may be one chink in India's armour and that is their top-heavy batting department. Opener Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli, at number three, have scored a lion's share of their runs and getting them early could expose a softer middle order. But Bangladesh seem ill-prepared to exploit that as well, as they have managed to take a wicket in the first 10 overs just twice in six matches. Pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Saifuddin have taken 10 wickets each, but only one of those wickets, that of Chris Gayle's wicket by Saifuddin, was taken by a pacer. Mashrafe meanwhile has just one wicket from six matches.

"It has not been ideal, for sure," Mashrafe said. "You need early wickets against India, otherwise they can get a very big score. But just because it has not happened before does not mean it won't happen tomorrow [Tuesday]."

That seems to be Bangladesh's way forward -- they have to find something that they have not yet found in the tournament.

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The Hyatt Regency in Birmingham became a busier hotel over the last two days. When the Bangladesh team arrived here on June 25, it became a hub of sorts for subcontinental visitors in the stronghold of the south-east Asian community in Britain, but it reached another level on Friday when the Indian team arrived at the same hotel. For once on their World Cup trek through the UK, Bangladesh’s supporters will be in the minority.

Bangladesh had faced the full volume of Indian support during their Champions Trophy semifinal in 2017 here, and Indians swamped the streets on the day of the match and overwhelmed the Bangladeshi support inside the arena, much as their team did to their opponents. So when Bangladesh take on India in their World Cup match at Edgbaston on July 2, they will be underdogs in every sense -- in terms of playing ability, tournament position and recent results between the two teams.

It is an encounter that, depending on whether or not India beat hosts England today, Bangladesh will have to win to stay alive in the race to the semifinals. On Friday night, while Birmingham was abuzz with weekend revellers, Mashrafe came out in front of the hotel for some fresh air and while that would have caused a small commotion of Bangladeshi selfie-hunters on other nights, Mashrafe was more or less left alone as Indian fans tried to talk their way through tough hotel security and failed. Mashrafe recalled how overwhelming the support for India was the last time.

Although the match was still four days away, the wheels in Mashrafe’s head were already turning about finding a way past a team that was yet to be defeated in the World Cup. Would it be better to bat first or bowl first if they won the toss? They lost by nine wickets after batting first and scoring 264 in 2017. Bowling first would open the possibility of them being batted out of the game as they were done by the two other strong contenders for the title -- Australia and England.

He had in the past expressed relief after losing the toss. Would it be better to lose the toss this time too?

“Maybe,” Mashrafe mused as the deluge of Indian fans swept past. He was wondering what score would be enough to win against the strong Indian lineup if they did bat first. 340 seemed to be the number. But for that, they would have to see the wicket, and Mashrafe did not yet know which strip they would use for the match. Such were the worries and conflicts that constitute the mind of a captain heading into what may become a sudden-death match against the strongest team of the tournament. It could be said that Bangladesh, ranked eighth, had done enough by staying alive this deep into the tournament and impressing all and sundry with their performance in hostile conditions.

“To tell you the truth, none of my team are satisfied with what we have done so far. We have played well, but while it would surprise many outsiders if we reached the semis, I can say for sure that no one in the team would be surprised,” Mashrafe said.

Having played their last match against Afghanistan on June 24, many Bangladesh players were away in various places of the UK on vacation. Mashrafe and opener Tamim Iqbal were among those who came back on Friday. Others joined the team yesterday and today Bangladesh are set to undergo a practice session to prepare for the crucial World Cup encounter. There will be much for the team to finalise over the next two days.

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India can take a huge step towards winning their first major title in over a decade and bury any doubts about their backbone in the knockout rounds when they face defending champions England in the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals on Thursday.

Despite being backed by the world's richest cricket board, success on the biggest stage has largely proved elusive for India and their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph is the most recent of their five global titles.

Rohit Sharma's team, however, head into the clash with England in Guyana on a six-match unbeaten streak in the tournament and determined to emulate the title success of the 2007 side in the inaugural edition.

Rohit, who along with fellow stalwart Virat Kohli could be playing at a last World Cup, returned to form with a 41-ball 92 in a thumping win over Australia in the Super Eight stage and said his side would continue being aggressive.

"We don't want to do anything different. We want to play the same way we've been playing, understand what individuals need to do at certain points in the game and play freely, not trying to think too much about what lies ahead," he added.

"It's important that we play our cricket well. So far we've been doing that consistently. Nothing changes for us, we want to focus on what we want to do and take the game on."

Indian fans will still be anxious given their team's shaky displays in the latter stages of big tournaments.

A dominant Indian side topped the group stage in the 2019 50-overs World Cup but crashed out in the semifinals to New Zealand. They also fell at the same stage of the T20 World Cup in 2022, going out to England.

After more heartbreak in the 2023 World Test Championship, where they lost in the final to Australia, India's only defeat at last year's ODI World Cup on home soil was in the title decider against the same opponents.

But India look in fine fettle with both bat and ball this time around. Rohit has scored 191 runs in six matches, while pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah has 11 wickets and spinner Kuldeep Yadav, a late entry into the side, has claimed seven in three games.

England's campaign has stuttered with losses to Australia and South Africa in the group stages and they only made the Super Eights by virtue of having a better net run rate than Scotland.

Now, however, they stand only two victories away from becoming the first team to retain the T20 World Cup trophy.

"In tournament cricket, sometimes it is better to sneak up and nick it at the end," said all-rounder Liam Livingstone.

"Hopefully that's the way we will go. A lot of lads have been contributing in the last few games, which should stand us in good stead going forward.

"We've got hopefully two massive games."

England's failure to defend the ODI World Cup last year heaped pressure on skipper Jos Buttler and coach Matthew Mott and they will hope West Indies-born pacers Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan can continue their good form in the knockout rounds.

Buttler is England's top scorer with 191 runs while opener Phil Salt has 183 and the pair's form could prove crucial if they are to advance.

Awaiting India or England in the title clash will be the winner of the first semifinal between South Africa and dark horses Afghanistan, who meet on Wednesday.

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