The Pavilion: The Pakistani cricket show that charmed Indians in 2023 - BBC News

A show featuring top Pakistani cricketers won thousands of fans across the border in India in 2023.

31 December 2023Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Fakhr-e-Alam on X/TwitterImage caption, (From left) Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Wasim Akram, host Fakhr-e-Alam and Moin Khan were part of The Pavilion's World Cup editionBy Ali Abbas Ahmadi BBC NewsIndia and Pakistan have long shared hostile relations which often impact cultural exchanges between the neighbouring countries. But a Pakistani cricket show aired during the 2023 World Cup managed to overcome these differences.

This was evident at the end of every match in the World Cup - held in October and November - when thousands of Indians flocked to YouTube to watch The Pavilion.

The show, launched in 2021, usually runs only during major cricket tournaments and features a stellar line-up of former Pakistan players. Its World Cup edition, which ended a day after the final between India and Australia, featured celebrated cricketers Wasim Akram, Moin Khan, Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq.

Watching the show - with its well-articulated analysis interspersed with compelling anecdotes and good-natured ribbing - almost felt like spending time with a group of friends talking about cricket around a table.

And that's what The Pavilion was always meant to be, says Salman Iqbal - the owner of ARY media group, the production company which runs the show.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-67650892?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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