Chacha Cricket
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| Chacha Cricket | |
|---|---|
 Chacha Cricket with fans at a Test Match in Bangalore, India. |
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| Born | Chaudhry Abdul Jalil October 8, 1949 Sialkot, Punjab, Dominion of Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Occupation | Cricket mascot |
| Employer | Pakistan Cricket Board |
| Religious beliefs | Islam |
Chaudhry Abdul Jalil (Urdu: عبد الجلیل) aka Chacha Cricket (Urdu: چاچا کرکٹ) is one of Pakistan's most ardent and famous cricket mascots and fans. Translated from Urdu, "Chacha Cricket" literally means "Uncle Cricket". He was born in Sialkot, Punjab on October 8, 1949.
Jalil is regularly seen as a spectator at cricket matches involving Pakistan. He is easily recognized by his white beard, his full green shalwar kameez dress and his white cap decorated with a sequined star and crescent moon. He is always armed with a Pakistani flag and initiates many crowd chants.
His second name is chacha zaher, In the 1980s, Jalil used to work in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He gained popularity by regularly attending cricket matches held in Sharjah wearing a green dress with a white star and crescent on it. He later resigned from his job and began to follow the Pakistan national team around the world on a full-time basis. Fellow Pakistan fans began to recognise him and he came to be known as Chacha Cricket. As his fame increased, the Pakistan Cricket Board hired him and currently sponsor him to travel around the world following the Pakistan team.
While his support for Pakistan is very strong, he remains good-natured and is also a popular figure amongst opposition fans such as England's Barmy Army.[1]
In March 2009 he was on this way to Lahore's cricket stadium to watch the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, however the Sri Lankans along cricketing officials were attacked and the match abandoned.
Having watched the first two days' play, Jalil was on his way back from his home town of Sialkot to bring cakes and sweets for Sri Lankan opener Malinda Warnapura's father, Upali. The two had been watching the cricket in the stands together, following the attacks Jalil said he was praying for the future of the game in the country.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Pakistan's favourite uncle: BBC Sport Retrieved 4 April 2007.
- ^ Pakistan's most famous fan prays cricket will return - Google News
[edit] External links
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