Away from home, neighbours get together to cheer

In this snowy, little mid-west American university town, the political heat between arch rivals isn’t something that affects the viewers of a big, crunch game. Here, a group of cricket-crazy students from both sides have taken the initiative to arrange for joint World Cup viewing in a hotel downtown.

Hitherto, the Indian students have stayed up to watch Waqar Younis and his team play England while their Pakistani chums, in the presence of a few Englishmen, have rooted for the Indians as Nehra went about demolishing Nasser Hussain and Co.

To Amiel Baquar, a Pakistani undergraduate in business at the University of Missouri-Columbia, the logic is simple. ‘‘When Pakistan plays India, we of course want Pakistan to win, but if India play England or Australia, we want India to win.’’

Out here, the relationship between the two groups of students is akin to what two granddads, disowned by their respective families would share at an old age home.

Plenty of socialising takes place round the year. At the end of a hectic school week, Vijay Rajendran and his Indian roomies hit the pool tables with the Baquars, Hasans and Akrams. Festivals like Diwali and Id, when everyone waits for the kheer to arrive, are the high points. ‘‘But these Indian guys are too studious,’’ says Abdul Basiel, adding, ‘‘whenever we call them, they are in the department labs.’’

So, what’s the plan of action for Saturday? ‘‘We are just waiting to see tomorrow’s match with Muzzafar (Indian student) and the other guys,’’ the Pakistanis shout in chorus. ‘‘We’ve never watched an India-Pakistan match together. It will be great fun.’’

Don’t they expect passions to run high? ‘‘No way,’’ they say. ‘‘We will crack jokes, everything will be taken in the right spirit. It would be really unfortunate if some commotion happens. It won’t.’’

These are students who are passionate about the game but don’t allow their politics to mix with it. Some such as Junaid Akram, who has travelled to America only to watch the World Cup with his cousin Basiel, feel strongly about a resumption of cricketing ties between both countries.

‘‘It should all be between governments, why involve sport? We are going to cheer every shot, every piece of good bowling and fielding, irrespective of who does it.’’