Pakistani fans (from left) Asif, Saqib and Sohail from the United Kingdom display their national flag outside Sabina Park, Kingston, on the morning of the first Cricket World Cup (CWC) match between WestIndies and Pakistan yesterday. They arrived on March 8, are staying in Ocho Rios and are in Jamaica for the opening three CWC games. Sohail described their time as "brilliant, the people are very helpful", and they will definitely be back. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor When you leave your home to go see a match at Sabina Park, you look forward to two things: a good game of cricket and an all-day party. The thousands of cricket fans who showed up at the venue yesterday to see the opening match of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup would not have been disappointed.
They came from all over the world. England, Ireland, Australia and, of course, the Caribbean were well represented. But it was the Pakistani supporters who threatened to drown out all others. It didn't work, but they (though few in numbers) put up a good fight. Dressed primarily in green and black, they were scattered across different stands, but their signs and chants attracted a lot of attention. Like the small group in the George Headley Stand who held up a banner that read "Pakistan No Problem", or the elderly man in the party stand whose sign read "Proud Passionate Pakistani."
To hear most people tell it, the party stand was the place to be. Just a few minutes after stepping in, it was clear why. Good music, free-flowing drinks and well-tanned Caribbean women whose beauty were enough to make you choke on your lunch.
They were gyrating to calypso and reggae music and proved a welcome distraction whenever there was a lull in the action on field. Here are some scenes of what took place off the pitch at yesterday's event.
A group of women cheers on the West Indies team at yesterday's match.
Left:A couple having a chat at the Party Stand at Sabina Park yesterday. Right:One of many well-dressed Pakistani supporters at yesterday's match. - photos by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
