{ "id": "146048", "author": "26", "cnmid": "", "title": "New York prepares for 'high-voltage' India-Pakistan cricket match", "lang": "en", "series": "583", "cup_year": "2024", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "At the cultural crossroads of the world, New Yorkers will experience a thrilling first on Sunday -- a World Cup cricket match hosted in a US city between Asian powerhouses: rivals India and Pakistan. ", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

At the cultural crossroads of the world, New Yorkers will experience a thrilling first on Sunday -- a World Cup cricket match hosted in a US city between Asian powerhouses: rivals India and Pakistan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"India-Pakistan is the game everyone would like to watch, and... it's happening in our backyard," said Ajith Shetty, president of two local cricket leagues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I'm very, very thrilled," the Indian native told AFP on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

However, roughly 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the pop-up stadium at Eisenhower Park on Long Island, fans interviewed in the bustling Little India neighborhood of Queens said they won't be able to attend the game in person.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I asked about it, but it's so expensive. I'll watch it on my mobile," 31-year-old Rajeet Krishna said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Pakistan against India is special... there's a long history there," he said, with the 34,000 seats in the stadium sold out for months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

- 'Lion and tiger' -<\/p>\r\n\r\n

This first Cricket World Cup hosted in the United States is in the T20 format, with games that last around three hours, as opposed to the five-day contests in the traditional test match format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Tickets on the resale market are going for at least $800, with Indian Premier League (IPL) founder and former president Lalit Modi slamming the inflated prices.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The tournament "in the US is for game expansion & fan engagement, not a means to make profits on gate collections," he said on X.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Beyond the Indian and Pakistani communities, the face-off is eagerly anticipated by immigrants from other South Asian countries where cricket is popular.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Like lion and tiger" is how Faros Ahmed, a 58-year-old of Bangladeshi origin, described the rivalry.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Even if I am not Indian, not Pakistani, I am going to watch it because this is a high-voltage match," said the restaurant manager, who supports Pakistan and will broadcast the game for his customers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n

 Like to see India lose<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Although both countries are cricket powerhouses, head-to-head matches are rare between the nations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The two sides do not meet outside of official competitions of the ICC, the international cricket federation, and the last test match between them was in 2007.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"We are going to take revenge, we are going to beat them," said Roop Sajnani, an Indian native who manages a sari store.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The 85-year-old recalled how his Hindu family was forced to move from what is today Pakistan into India, in the exodus that preceded partition in 1947.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Many of the businesses and restaurants in Little India are run by Bangladeshis, many of whom lined up behind Pakistan, from which Bangladesh gained its independence in 1971.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Let's say we just like to see India lose against all the teams," said Mostakim Shahed, a 20-year-old student from Bangladesh, with a smile.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"If you look at Asia, yes, India is the best team," he said. "They are the richest cricket team... they already have support. Whereas Pakistan, they don't have really support."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

- 'Bloodbath' -<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sunday's meeting is crucial for Pakistan, which risks elimination in the first round after a surprising loss on Thursday to the United States, ranked 18th in the world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

New York-based Pakistani journalist Wajahat S. Khan said he had "never been more excited or terrified about a cricket match at the same time."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"The data doesn't lie. Pakistan is likely to lose. It's likely to be a bloodbath. But you can never write off Pakistan's cricket team. Never."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The US win over sixth-ranked Pakistan has boosted interest in cricket in the country, where the sport remains well outside the mainstream.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"All the news channels are talking about it, people are explaining, what is cricket. People are understanding, what is cricket," Shetty said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Beyond the tournament, which concludes at the end of June, the local cricket organizer hopes it brings "better infrastructure" for players in the New York area.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Also Read: <\/b> T20WC 2024 Schedule & Squads<\/a><\/p>

They will not, however, benefit from the Long Island stadium, which will be dismantled in July, leaving local leagues to continue their quest for a dedicated arena.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ICC-working-hard-to-fix-New-York-T20-pitch1.jpg", "alt_img": "India vs Pakistan", "alt_title": "T20 World Cup 2024", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "New York prepares for 'high-voltage' India-Pakistan cricket match On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "At the cultural crossroads of the world, New Yorkers will experience a thrilling first on Sunday -- a World Cup cricket match hosted in a US city between Asian powerhouses: rivals India and Pakistan.", "seo_keywords": "T20 World Cup 2024, India Vs Pakistan, New York", "tag": null, "tagging": "T20 World Cup 2024, India Vs Pakistan, New York", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "new-york-prepares-for-high-voltage-india-pakistan-cricket-match", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "1565", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-06-08 09:05:42", "updated": "2024-06-08 09:05:42", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "T20 World Cup 2024, India Vs Pakistan, New York", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2024-06-08 09:05:42", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/new-york-prepares-for-high-voltage-india-pakistan-cricket-match-146048" }