WC diary: Of Bashir Miaan, Indian cabbies and flight fares

For the Indians residing in Australia, it can't get bigger than an Indo-Pak match and that too in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
No wonder Indian fans across Australia have all descended in Adelaide. Most of them have taken a two day leave from work and drove down from far off places like Melbourne, Sydney and Perth to enjoy the match. They started on Friday, reached on Saturday, will watch the game on Sunday before heading back to base the following day.
"Friday and Monday are two days that I have taken leave with weekend. World Cup mein itna toh banta haain (all worth it for World Cup)," said Prashant, who is serving an Indian company on-site in Melbourne.

The Swami Army and the so-called face of cricket crazy Indian fan Sudhir Gautam has already arrived blowing his conchshell and vigorously waving the national tri-colour. It is Sachin Tendulkar, who is sponsoring Sudhir's World Cup trip.
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Bashir Miaan is back with his Indo-Pak pathan suit

Mohammed Bashir, the Chicago-based Pakistani, who is known as the new 'Chacha Pakistan' is here to cheer his team but wearing a distinct Pathan suit which has the designs of India and Pakistan flags.
"It took me USD 300 to make this pathani," said Bashir miaan, as he is popularly known.
He is a regular feature these days in ICC tournaments. The most unique part of the suit is an improvised catchline of famous Raj Kapoor starrer title track "Jis Desh Mein Ganga Bahti Hain".

Bashir's wife Rafiya is from Hyderabad and the catchline reads, "Jis Desh Mein Ganga Bahti hain, Us Desh Ki Meri Biwi Hain".
A selfie with Bashir miaan was something that both Indians and Pakistani fans wanted.
"I have tickets of most of India and Pakistan matches. I will go for India matches also. Hyderabad is the land of my in-laws after all," said Bashir, who runs a fast food joint called Gharib Nawaz in Chicago.