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RAWALPINDI: If you are a cricket fan anywhere in the world, you probably know who Pakistan’s Chacha Cricket is.

The South Asian nation’s most famous cricket mascot, Chaudhry Abdul Jalil, 74, popularly known as Chacha, or Uncle, Cricket, is a regular fixture at Pakistani matches at home and abroad, always seen sporting his white beard and green salwar kameez, Pakistan’s national dress. , entertaining the crowd with humorous comments and songs, dancing with fans, signing autographs and welcoming the opposing team in his signature style.

A die-hard cricket fan, he attended his first international game between Pakistan and England in 1969 at the Lahore Stadium when he was 19 years old. Since 1998, he has been sponsored by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to follow the Pakistan team around the world and even received a monthly stipend from the body.

But while everyone knows Chacha Crickets love of the game, few know about his closeness to the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates, where he worked as a foreman in Abu Dhabi Municipality for 25 years, and Sharjah, where he worked on the construction site of Sharjah Airport and also the construction of the city’s now famous cricket stadium in 1980.

Jalil was there when the stadium hosted its first match between Pakistan and England in 1983. In fact, it was also the very cricket stadium where the Pakistani Superfan first rose to fame.

I got my fame after the 1986 match between Pakistan and India in Sharjah where people from both countries cheered for the two teams throughout the day, Jalil told Arab News in an interview in Rawalpindi, where he was invited as the chief guest of a local cricket tournament.

Regional rivals Pakistan and India have one of the most famous sporting rivalries in the word. Matches between them sell out months in advance and have been criticized as a war without weapons.

Because of my unique attire, the first time I wore the Pakistan flag dress, a lot of people gathered around me and I led them in chanting for the Pakistan team, which created a competitive environment with the Indian fans who also gathered to compete for us,” Jalil said while recounting the scenes at the Sharjah Stadium.

Thanks to my witty slogans, many Pakistani supporters gathered and joined in the chanting, which attracted the broadcasters, who focused on me many times during the match, he said.

People started recognizing him after the match, the mascot said, and then I adopted this outfit permanently.

He uttered a slogan that he first shouted in Sharjah and which has since become famous all over the world:

Chachay di gal man Kay kheelo, jum Kay khelo, jum Kay khelo, acha khelo, mil Kay khelo, Shaan say khelo, aan say khelo, dil say khelo, jaan say kheelo, jeetay ga bhai jeetay ga, Pakistan jeetay ga [Listen to uncles advice and play, play with conviction, play with conviction, play well, play together, play with glory, play with pride, play with your heart, play with your life, Pakistan will win, brother, Pakistan will win].

I have seen more than 100 matches in Sharjah, Jalil added, and I have never missed a Pakistan match during my time in the UAE.

The UAE played an important role in his life, said Jalil, originally from Sialkot, and in making his dreams come true.

I have seen and participated in the construction of the modern UAE, Jalil said. I went to UAE in 1973 and initially worked as a labourer. Then between 1974 and 1979 I worked at Sharjah Airport as a concrete supervisor. After that I got a job in Abu Dhabi Municipality.

Jalil stayed at the company for 25 years, during which he said he saw firsthand the phenomenal development of the United Arab Emirates.

Even in his early years in the UAE, Jalil was obsessed with cricket.

I liked cricket so much that we played it alternately every Friday in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, he said with a smile. We even started Sialkot Cricket Club in Dubai.

Jalil left the UAE in 1998 when the PCB offered to sponsor him to participate in matches. This year, he celebrated 54 years of watching his favorite sport and giving his team raucous support around the world, including India, Great Britain, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

I have seen the whole world, including Africa, Asia and America, he said. In 1999 England gave me an honorary visa without checking my documents within an hour. Since then I have done 13 tours in England and six in India.

When Jalil was asked who his favorite captain was after all his years as a super fan, he immediately named Imran Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq.

But if I have to name just one player in the world, he added, it is Wasim Akram.

And his advice for the current team:

My message to all players and people is to play cricket honestly, without cheating… Be a good person, a good Pakistani and a good Muslim.