“The hatred between India and Pakistan is due to politics.
“The hatred between India and Pakistan is due to politics. Being a Pakistani, I am telling you that India are favourites this Saturday,” says Mohammad Bashir, considered the current mascot for the Pakistan cricket team after ‘Chacha Cricket’.
Bashir, a Karachi-born currently based in Chicago, is an admirer of Dhoni. “My heart wishes for Dhoni’s success. I will pray to Allah for his well-being. Dhoni will never falter under stress. If Pakistan win, it will be a chance victory. This team isn’t likely to win against a strong side like India. People in Pakistan may feel bad with my comment but one need to accept that this Indian team is very compact. Pakistan cannot beat this team and reach the final,” says Bashir. Dhoni gave Bashir a ticket for the ICC World Cup 2011 semi-final between the two nations in Mohali. “It was my first visit to India. I didn’t know how to get the match ticket but a man came with a white envelope and said: “Yeh Mahi ne diya hai (Mahi sent this for you). I was extremely touched,” recalls Bashir.
