India-Pakistan

[prasad]

Pakistan series is over and we won it. Apart from that, what stood out was that the crowd. The response of Pakistani crowd was amazing. Now we hear that Pakistani team will tour India. Will the Indian crowd be as well-behaved as in Pakistan. I am not suggesting anything. Just want to know opinions.

[Vinoth]

Yes, Indeed. The Indians Will Surely Respect The Paks.

[Arshdeep]

Hi
I hope that when Pakistan team come India they get sam erespect as india got in Pakistan, but unfortulately its true that Indians are not good viewers. Many teams trevelling India have problem with unsettled crowd. I hope that Indian crowd improve on this.
Good Luck Indians

[Vinoth]

lets see what happens, we are indians so we must respect them.

[Arshdeep]

yeah
Lets hope for the best

[Notts Exile]

Surely part of the reason for there being a peaceful crowd was down to the fact that there was barely a crowd?

Having said that, respect to those who did attend for being so respectful. Hope the Indians can do the same. Would love to be at the Wankhede when Shoaib charges in to Sehwag.

[SSA.]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Surely part of the reason for there being a peaceful crowd was down to the fact that there was barely a crowd?

Notts Exile, the ODIs were played to packed stands. ODIs always gather a much larger crowd and fan following and possibly the dangers of crowd disturbance in the Sub Continent than test matches.

It was great work by Pakistani security services. And the wonderful people of Pakistan were generous and gracious even in defeat. The Pakistan press went mad at their team and fans were very angry with their team as well but no one took it out on the Indian team or the Indian supporters who had travelled to Pakistan to follow the ODIs. Great stuff!

I hope people of India will be equally gracious and welcoming.

[Notts Exile]

Quite agree SSA. Am just surprised at the lack of support for Test matches when played in countries with such a large knowledgeable cricket loving population. I, myself, have watched Test matces in India and been surprised to find the stadiums not packed out. Maybe this was because the West Indies weren't very attractive or competitive but I would have thought India-Pakistan played anywhere other than the South Pole would attract a full house.

[SSA.]

It is surprising why test cricket is not as popular in India. I rememebr going to Ferozeshah Kotla Ground in Delhi for a test match a long time ago and there was reasonably good crowd, but this was before the advent of Cable TV and satellite channels which brings cricket to everyone's homes. May be its the ticket prices, may be people just prefer to sit in the comforts of their living room. Whatever it is its really sad that the Indian public does not come in their 1000s to support their team for a test match.

The other thing is the ODIs have captured everyone's imagination with all those big shots, sixes etc etc. Even those who do not really understand the game will go. Yuvraj Singh is more popular than Anil Kumble, Until recently Rahul Dravid was not considered very important becuase he is not exactly a flashy sixer hitter... I hope that makes sense?

[Notts Exile]

Sounds like the same sort of problenms they have in most countries, the shortened form of the game is more popular because you get a result in a day and more excitement, allegedly. I just alwaus expecetd the Indians to attend Tests in their thousands like they do the ODIs, being the cricket lovers they are. I sat with some very knowledgeable people both at the Chidambaram and at the Wankhede. Most suggested that were England or the Australians playing the Indians then the ground may be full.

Have you been to Bangalore? Kumble is most popluar there, he even has a road named after him in the centre of the City!!