MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are hugely popular in the cricket loving nation and the fans have often expressed their affection through several forms.
‘Mahi’ acknowledges the love he receives from fans across the border. Mohammed Bashir, a 62-year-old Pakistani fan, was earlier this year, ecstatic after he received a match ticket from Dhoni for the Indo-Pak clash in the Asia Cup.
Bashir, who was at Mirpur for the crunch match, said: “Dhoni had provided me the pass for Saturday’s match. I didn’t ask Afridi to oblige me. I never speak to him. Afridi may have several fans in Pakistan but unlike India, our team is not united,” he had said.
However, this adulation has many a times landed fans into trouble as well.
Earlier this month, an Indian cricket fan Ripon Chowdhury was detained by the local police in Assam after he wore a jersey with the Shahid Afridi's number embossed on it during a cricket match.
"It is shameful that such an incident should take place. It is sad that politics is being played with cricket," Afridi said adding that he would appeal to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the matter.
A Pakistani fan of Indian Test captain Virat Kohli in February this year was sentenced to 10 years in prison for hoisting the Indian flag on the roof of his house. He was granted bail by a court in Okara, Punjab.