TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Late in the afternoon on February 15, an unusual frenzy gripped the business class arrivals lounge of the Dubai International Airport. The word had travelled that the Indian cricket team was going to land shortly and plenty of fans had assembled to catch a glimpse of their favourite superstars. The area which generally sees passengers quietly make their way to the fleet of luxury vehicles waiting outside was buzzing with activity.
Security officials were working overdrive when the flight carrying the Men in Blue landed on the runway. Few luggage trolleys were used to cordon off the area and the intensity picked up when the local police directed everyone to vacate the lounge area and head to the parking lot outside. There were loud cheers when head coach Gautam Gambhir led the entourage to the team bus. Everyone – from Virat Kohli to Hardik Pandya to Shreyas Iyer – acknowledged the fans while boarding the team bus.
When the players took their respective seats, the waiting fans kept looking inside because captain Rohit Sharma was yet to exit the building. And when he did, there were loud cheers for the Hitman who walked briskly to the waiting bus and even summoned the security official for some instructions. Did he forget something again? Eh!, not quite sure but you never know! The bus left the airport and KL Rahul, who made his way out at least 20 minutes after the team, took a separate car to the team hotel.
Business as usual resumed after that and the usual calm was restored to the business class arrivals lounge. The ICC Champions Trophy‘s first match in Dubai is still some days away and the buzz has naturally been missing in the city. And quite understandably so. Only India would be parked here because the rest of the teams will play their matches in Pakistan, the official hosts of the tournament. The teams allotted fixtures vs India will travel to Dubai and then head back as per the hybrid arrangement okayed by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The tournament gets underway on February 19 with India playing their opening match vs Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20. The large section of Bangladeshis residing here are excited to see their heroes in action and sound very optimistic on their chances too. The only question on their lips is “when will the Bangladesh team land?” and they certainly sound confident of taking a Jasprit Bumrah-less India down in their tournament opener.
“I support Bangladesh and want them to win. It will be difficult but easier than before because Jasprit Bumrah, the dangerman, is not here. And we have good pacers. So it will not be an easy game for India as pacers do well in Dubai,” said a cab driver who makes multiple trips to the airport in a day.
“Pakistan is 50-50. They can do anything on their day but when it’s not their day, they are a difficult team to even watch on TV (laughs),” he added on the hosts’ chances.
Pakistan, the defending champions, will put their credentials to the test in the opener against New Zealand in Karachi.