Fandom in cricket reaches crazy heights and one such fan is Karachi-born Mohammad Bashir Bozai, who has copped a lot of criticism from his countrymen for supporting and cheering India’s MS Dhoni.
However, now Bashir, known as 'Chacha Chicago', has decided to stop traveling around the world to watch India-Pakistan matches at ICC events, given that MS Dhoni has decided to retire from international cricket.
"Dhoni has retired and so have I. I don't see myself traveling for cricket again with him not being around. I loved him and he loved me back. All great players have to call time one day but his retiring makes me sad and brings back a lot of precious memories. He deserved a grand send-off but again he is beyond that," Bashir told PTI from Chicago, where he runs a restaurant.
CWC 2019: "MS Dhoni helps me getting tickets easily," says Chacha Bashir
The well-known Chacha, instead, now plans to visit Ranchi to meet the man whose sphere of influence spreads far and wide.
The bond between Dhoni and Bashir Chacha grew after the then India captain arranged for a ticket for him to watch the high octane India-Pakistan semi-final match of the 2011 World Cup in Mohali. Now that he is done attending live games, his next stop is Ranchi.
"I will go to his house in Ranchi when things get normal (post COVID-19 pandemic). That is the least I can do to wish him all the best for the future. I will also ask Ram Babu (another superfan, from Mohali, to come with me). I would have traveled to see him in the IPL but there are travel conditions and with my heart condition, it is not safe to do so," said Bashir.
Bashir acknowledges that though the two never interacted much during the ICC events, the Indian legend was always there to help him before he could ask.
"On some occasions, I did get some time with him, but in 2019, we could not interact much. But like always, he arranged a ticket for me. And during the Asia Cup in 2018, he took me to his room and gave me his jersey. That was really special just like the two times when he gave me his bat. When he did not have the time to reach me, he sent a member of the support staff with the tickets. He did not have to do that but he did," said an emotional Bashir.
Asia Cup 2018: Famous Pakistani fan Chacha Bashir met with MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma
Bashir Chacha also shared his most cherished memory as a lifelong Dhoni fan.
"This particular incident during the 2015 World Cup I can never forget. I was there for a game in Sydney and was sitting in the sun, it was extremely hot. Suresh Raina came from nowhere and gave me sunglasses. He said, "It is from Dhoni bhai, not me". I smiled back at him," Bashir shared.
"This one time in Birmingham, the Pakistani fans hurled choicest of abuses at me and even called me a 'Gaddar' (traitor). I had to ignore all of it. I love both countries and humanity come first anyway," he signed off.
(PTI inputs)
