Chacha Cricket – translated from Urdu as ‘Uncle Cricket’ – is Pakistan’s most famous spectator.Dressed from head to toe in green, with a sequined star and crescent moon on his hat and a flag permanently in hand, he is to be found at every Pakistan match. Naturally, he won’t be missing the upcoming series in India either.

‘Yes I am arriving. I may miss the first ODI in Guwahati (Nov. 5) but will certainly be present at Mohali (on 8th November),’ he confirmed.

‘I have come to Lahore (from Sialkot) for my visa application and requested the board to sponsor my India trip. If they don’t, the ARY digital TV channel has promised me to make my trip possible,’ he added.

‘I shall be watching all remaining ODIs and Tests. I love Test matches better than one-dayers.’

Born in Sialkot, north-west Pakistan, the 60-year-old Abdul Jalil watched his first international match on the Colin Cowdrey tour of 1969. He has the reputation of being Pakistan’s number one fan, and since 2000 his trips have been sponsored by ‘well-wishers’.

Chacha first attracted media attention at Sharjah (he was a regular there too) while he was working at Abu Dhabi. He invariably lists Javed Miandad’s last ball six off Chetan Sharma as the best match he’s witnessed.

‘Chetan Sharma always rues the fact that I consider that match the best, but undoubtedly Miandad’s heroic effort can never be erased from memory.’

Chacha started to be recognised by other Pakistan fans and a cult soon developed around his patriotic slogans.

The saddest match for him is the India-Pakistan encounter during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

‘Pakistan capitulated without a fight and I was very depressed after that,’ he recalls.

‘Jive, Jive Pakistan,’ he chants – ‘Long live Pakistan.

‘My love is cricket – and happiness.’