By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Guwahati : The sudden imposition of emergency in Pakistan led to utter confusion among cricket fans in India with local newspaper offices flooded with telephone calls from people wanting to know if the match was on Monday as per schedule.
Even Assam Cricket Association (ACA) officials were jittery and were seen making frantic phone calls to New Delhi and other places to know if there were any change in plans for the Pakistan team.
Only after news came in that the Pakistani team would continue with the series did officials and fans heave a sigh of relief.
“For a moment, we thought Guwahati was jinxed,” a senior ACA official said.
In April last year, the India-England tie was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to bad weather. Mob violence followed when the match was called off.
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Tattoos, touts ready for ODI
From tattoos to face and body painting, cricket-crazy fans in Assam are expressing their multi-hued emotions over the first of the five-match one-day international series between India and Pakistan to be played at the Nehru Stadium here Monday.
A group of about 20 artists was busy getting ready for fans queuing up to get their faces, arms and bodies imprinted with tattoos or other designs ahead of the big match.
“We want to be at the match with a different look and hence having my arms and chest tattooed with temporary markers,” said Arun Hazarika, a college student.
Such is the craze that fans donning Team India colours were seen riding on cycle rickshaws across the city drumming up support for the home side.
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Any price for a ticket
People are ready to pay any price to get into the Nehru Stadium. Black marketers are having a field day selling tickets at a premium – a Rs.500 ticket was fetching Rs.5,000, while people were reported to have paid Rs.15,000 for a ticket that was originally priced at Rs.4,500.
Police teams have swung into action to bust such rackets although people are in no mood to provide any clues about such black marketers.
“I am looking for a ticket and will pay any price,” said Dhan Boruah, a city businessman.