Edgbaston cricket ground is set to turn blue on Sunday as India prepares to face England in a crucial group meeting in Birmingham with a semi-final berth on the line for both sides.
The match is a 25,000-seat full house that will be played in a raucous football-style atmosphere with India poised to attract more fans than England. Interest in the game is intense in Birmingham with a fan zone set up in Victoria Square.
Indian fans have shown up in great numbers in their six matches so far and the trend is expected to continue against England as well.
But there might be a few green jerseys in the crowd and Pakistani fans are also supporting the Indian team at the moment. A victory for Virat Kohli’s side will keep the Pakistani countryside alive in the tournament.
Social media is abuzz with Pakistani fans tweeting in favor of an Indian victory, especially on the account of Nasser Hussain who tweeted on June 26 asking Pakistani fans who they would support on Sunday.
Who are you supporting, Nass?
Kevin Pietersen (@ KP24) June 26, 2019
England of course Kev .. like you when England play rugby in South Africa
Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) June 26, 2019
Definitely support India for two reasons
1- they are neighbors
2- they are passionate about cricketRana Shazib (@RmShazib) June 26, 2019
India
JAWWAD (@engr_views) June 28, 2019
SREMENT INDIA
Pakistan Tehreek and Insaf (@PTINEWSCHANNEL) June 26, 2019
Is it even a question? pic.twitter.com/CenAXF1A47
zaki zaidi (@zakiistan) June 26, 2019
We want a semi-final with India.
Tahir Rana (@iamtahirrana) June 26, 2019
Yes, of course, we love our neighbor. Of course, we support India. @MehrTarar # CWC19https://t.co/ilamj20iQO
Ahmed Sa £ ¡M (@Ahmadd_Saleem) June 26, 2019
Certainly neighbors, ie India.
We can choose our friends but not our neighbors.
India any day over colonial England.(@ LePréCambrien) June 26, 2019
India comes on the neighbors
AishaBajwa (@ Bajwa3700) June 26, 2019
It’s time to support our neighbor
All my wishes
Inshallah, India will win
Support from
@BCCI@TheRealPCB#IndvsEng#WeHaveWeWill#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/1RgpNG7ZSb
Xami Niazi (@ Xamy_99) June 27, 2019
Pakistan edged England in the points standings thanks to their victory over Afghanistan and now rank fourth with 9 points, one more than the host nation who have lost three and won four of the 7 games so far. .
For India, second, it’s simple. Victory in Birmingham and Virat Kohli’s team join Australia in the semi-finals.
For fifth-placed England, Eoin Morgan’s side will likely have to beat India – something no team has done so far – and also defeat 2015 runner-up New Zealand in their last. group match Wednesday to qualify. Two wins in two games and England will qualify.
A loss, however, takes England’s fate into its own hands and opens the door to fourth place Pakistan, which is one point ahead of England but played one more game, and sixth place Bangladesh , which is a point behind England.
