'We might as well stay on'

In a perfect world, India would have been playing Pakistan on April 15 at the Kensington Oval, with the organizers laughing all the way to the bank with a 22,000 sell-out. However, the thousands of fans who planned their trip months in advance in anticipation of such a clash had to settle for Bangladesh v Ireland, thanks to the bizarre turn of events in March 17. Life must go on and to delight of the hosts, plenty chose to stay back and watch the cricket and savour the best the Caribbean has to offer.

"It is like money thrown in the bin,” one Indian supporter told AFP. “But I decided to make the most of the holidays and come and watch some cricket." The report said that 3,000-odd fans came from the United States and the United Kingdom much to the delight of local hoteliers. Some left instead for Grenada to watch Sri Lanka where tickets are available at half the original price. In a bid to fill the stands, the Kensington Oval opened its gates for an hour during Sunday’s match, allowing free entry.

For some, it was an excuse to catch up with old friends. "My father-in-law had surgery in Karachi last week and he insisted that I don't abandon the tour,” said Ahmed Faruqui, a Pakistan fan. One Indian fan from Chennai admitted how disappointed he was knowing he had to settle for watching Jeremy Bray and William Porterfield instead of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.

Those from Ireland were sympathetic, but Dermot Parker from Belfast added : This is the World Cup and you expect upsets like this. Perhaps India and Pakistan will learn from Bangladesh and Ireland."