Age is never a barrier. Fans, catching the fever young, probably die as hard-core cricket fanatics. Nor is gender a factor. If you think cricket is a man’s domain, then you are barking up the wrong pitch. Women find cricket vogue and are now the lead factor in taking the support level to fanatical heights.

In the battle between countries, it is now the women who go to new extremes to offer support to their teams. The use of catchy and witty one-liners are smeared across banners, or rooted by female fans bearing a common visual. The audience is ablaze with enthusiasm, dressed in jerseys, equipped with props, adorned with flags, or immersed in face/body paintings to celebrate their love for the game.

Fourteen countries are participating in this World Cup for cricket’s prize plum. The commercial bonanza has steadily risen in accordance to the constant coverage of the media and the growing fan base.

Harold Larwood, the much-feared English fast bowler in the “Bodyline Series”, declared, “Cricket was my reason for living.” In retrospect, many may concur. And the best thing is, this March you can breathe cricket in the Subconinent with the cricketers of various nationalities playing with your pulse rate. So come, live the experience.
 

World Cup 2011 festivities began in Dhaka, Bangladesh, following a $30m opening ceremony. Bryan Adams and other famous Indian singers added star power to the entertainment segment. All 14 captains were carried in on striking rickshaws as 3,500 performers highlighted local cultures. The 49-match, six-week tournament is spread across three-host countries Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. Pakistan was forced to withdraw over security concerns. Australia has been the most successful in the World Cup tournaments, taking four titles. The West Indies won twice, while India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have each won once. Make a wish this World Cup, after all it is a dream that unfolds on the  pitches of Asia.

Do you know?

The first international cricket match in history was played between Canada and the United States, in 1844. But the first credited Test match was played in 1877 between Australia and England — the origin of The Ashes series.
 

The World Cup trophy is no less than a crown, for any country. So it is not the battle of the matches, it is battle for the throne. The title is the emperor’s crown. Even if it means that we embrace excessive obsession, to witness never seen before extremes, cricket World Cup legitimizes that extremities as cricket mania pervades in India, Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. For expatriates living in the Gulf — especially Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain — cricket ties the adored bond between the love for one’s country and their beloved sport.

“Cricket is a pressure game, and when it comes to an India-Pakistan match the pressure is doubled,” Imran Khan, former Pakistani captain and now a cricket commentator relates the madness of the game. It is true that a game between India and Pakistan is epic and most awaited by cricket fans in the world. Even the remark by Imran Khan that India are favorites to win the 2011 World Cup title, sparked controversial flames. Such is the fervor every comment is greeted and such is the keenness with which every move, talk or play is watched of cricketers – both past and present – and anyone remotely associated with the game.

The Ashes known for the fierce rivalry between England Australia rides on its own saga, but the World Cup has its own intensity. The viewers in Gulf have their own rivalries.

Every status update, a new twist in the game generates an impassionate response from its audience. During matches, the atmosphere is tense, wild and the vibe is ecstatic, amid nationalistic bias.

Though the rivalries are muted in the Gulf, fans in their home countries sink and soar with their team. And most of their heady adulation culminates in heroic admiration – if the performance is good — or total reviling — if bad.

During a game in 2003 held in Toronto, Pakistani fans were disappointed with their performance. Though the team was pilloried for their showing, it did not end there. Videos posted on Youtube showed several Pakistani fans mocking the team as they approached the dressing room. The coach was assaulted with racial comments.

The Indian fans too did not lag behind in venting their ire. In one instance, some fans splashed black paint on Mohammad Kaif’s house and burned effigies of Sourav Ganguly in his  hometown, Calcutta, after a disappointing match in 2003.

The abuse does not stop there, as it is a common sight during matches of crowds either verbally or physically assaulting each other.

But there are moments when performances embrace one and all. This was evident in the Sunday’s match between India and England. Sachin Tendulkar scored 120 against England and both teams and the capacity audience raised a salute to the “Little Master”. The intense match was stopped briefly as all congratulated him showing cricket can transcend barriers too. This was his fifth hundred as he marked a milestone to become the highest century-maker in World Cup history. Then Strauss cracked a stupendous 158 runs earning due respect by fans all over the world.
 

The common ground is not just the cricket pitch. The world as we know it, is a cricket ground. Cricket is game of the masses, hence it is enjoyed purely in the company of countless ‘cricketeers’ (a term coined by Rocketeer for cricket buffs).

Compounds and houses in the Kingdom are set up with projector screens or drawing rooms plastered with LCD’s filled with supporters for every match.

There are moments where a divided community can celebrate their teams victory unified, maybe unintended but that is the magic of cricket.

That the fans are die hard can be gauged by the fact that tickets to the final are sold out and now cost INR50,000 in the ubiquitous black market. It is no wonder, that the craze is unparalleled.

Even the fans on the move has his own ways of staying in touch with his favorite sport through the customary text message or blackberry broadcast, the mobile, Internet and television updates. And the fans, who have the daily slog, find a way to indulge in their passion with occasional peeks into websites that abound the Web.

Amid all this debates, relentless scrutiny-filled opinions, roaring sensationalism on websites, blogs, Facebook status updates and twitter views are updated by the second. And the fans cannot get enough. Till the World Cup ends, the spirit and the spirited will be sorely tested.