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iCricketer.com
Media Release
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Uncle Pakistani leads the cheers
Abdul Jalil is using cricket to pursue his
mission in life: bringing joy into the lives of
his fellow Pakistanis.
"There is so much poverty and illiteracy in
Pakistan. They are unemployment problems and
people remain in tension. I think cricket is a
good way to lift their spirits," Jalil said.
The 57-year-old Jalil is a familiar sight at
Pakistan cricket matches, wearing his green
robes and cap and waving a national flag.
Jalil, known as "Chacha Pakistani" (Uncle
Pakistani), has travelled around the world as
the cheerleader of the team and is now paid by
the Pakistan Cricket Board to rouse the
supporters.
Cricket remains Pakistan's number one sport and
the performances of the national team are
passionately followed by the population of 150
million.
Jalil saw his first cricket match at Lahore in
1969 when England played Pakistan.
"It has been 36 years now since I have been
following cricket and 19 years since I first
decided to don this green cloak and cap," he
recalled during the first Test against England
in Multan this week.
MEMORABLE MATCH
Jalil made his first appearance as the official
cheerleader of the Pakistan team at Sharjah in
1986.
It was the match when former captain Javed
Miandad hit a last-ball six against India to
give Pakistan their first major one-day title.
"That match and moment remain memorable for me.
It lifted the profile of our team," said Jalil.
"I used to travel from Abu Dhabi, where I
worked, for the matches in Sharjah."
"Now the Pakistan cricket board has appointed a
10,000 rupees (126.2 pounds) monthly stipend for
me and they also sponsor some of my trips abroad
or else it is not possible for me to carry on
like this," Jalil said.
Jalil has been to the last three World Cups
courtesy of the board.
Jalil, who hails from the Punjab city of Sialkot,
went to India earlier this year when Pakistan
toured there and said the response of the Indian
people towards him was fantastic.
"They were very good to me. I travelled a total
of 58 hours by train around India and everywhere
they greeted me with love and affection," he
said.
The series was the first on Indian soil in six
years between the two countries, who have fought
three wars since being divided along religious
lines when they were freed from British rule in
1947.
In Multan this week, Jalil is waving two flags
instead of one, having decided to add the Union
flag in honour of the visitors.
"Cricket should bring people and nations closer
together," he said. "After all it is just a game
and not war."
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