NEW DELHI: Their is no dearth of supporters for the Pakistan team on the foreign land as a number of Indian fans cheered for the Shoaib Malik and Co. during the first cricket Test at the Ferozeshah Kotla here.
In the crowd of almost 15,000, a number of Pakistani flags waved at every hit to the fence while many showed support to the visitors by painting crescent and star on their cheeks. A number of them were Indians.
"We are Indians but our Pakistani friends have come to watch the match and so we are supporting them," said one fan, who was accompanying Shoaib Malik's elder brother Imran.
Imran said he usually felt homesick when away for longer duration but this time he was feeling at home in India.
"I feel very homesick whenever I am away but this time I have no such feeling. In fact, I am feeling as if I am at home," he said.
A young girl from Delhi was accompanying her cousin Huda, who has come from Pakistan to watch the match.
"I am supporting both India and Pakistan," she said.
"I have managed autographs from MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar and so many other players," Huda said flashing her photograph with Akhtar.
"I am a fan of Shoaib Akhtar. He is from my city, Rawalpindi," said the journalism student who reached the stadium early to catch the action from the very first ball.
After the Indian innings started, the crowd started cheering for Pakistani speedsters Sohail Tanvir and Shoaib Akhtar by shouting 'Shoaib... Sohail'.
Indian supporters countered by shouting "jitega bhai jitega... India jitega" on the rhythm of claps every now and then.
