This year, "Chacha Cricket," the most well-known cheerleader in Pakistan, will retire. He hopes to support Pakistan from the stands in England this summer during Pakistan's three-Test tour, but the third and final ODI between Pakistan and Australia in Lahore next week will be his last time doing so at home.
For Abdul Jalil, Chacha's true name, who first watched a cricket match from the stands in Lahore during England's 1968–69 Test series tour, Australia's matches in Lahore represent a sort of full circle moment. When Pakistan frequently played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the 1980s and 1990s, he became a mainstay there. His distinctive attire—a deep green kurta and cap—helped him become well-known throughout the country.

At seventy-seven, Jalil hopes to fulfill his dream of establishing a restaurant and museum outside of Sialkot, his hometown. He said, "I will display all the memorabilia I have gathered over the years at the museum," to ESPNcricinfo. "I had the target of cheering for Pakistan in 500 matches, which I have achieved."
In Pakistan, Jalil is somewhat of a celebrity. He wants to leverage his popularity at events—from wedding ceremonies to local tapeball matches—for the good of others. "My passion for the game and my nation has driven me to do anything. Making supporters happy across the aisles and serving as a wonderful representative of the nation have been my goals.

In the past, Jalil had to "change three buses to reach Sharjah" from his Abu Dhabi office to watch Pakistan play, but he was deterred from traveling to Sri Lanka for the 2026 T20 World Cup by the team's previous poor results.In the Asia Cup last year, I saw Pakistan lose to India three times in a row. India has now defeated us nine times in a row. After the Asia Cup, I didn't want them to lose another game."
However, Chacha has been a cheerleader long enough to recall Pakistan's supremacy over India. He has pleasant memories of such times. "I was on the ground when Javed Miandad hit Chetan Sharma for a six on the last ball [in 1986 at Sharjah],"

However, he is particularly hurt by two losses. "At the 2024 T20 World Cup in New York, they were unable to chase 120 against India. I had come a long way to help the team.
The other is from the 2011 World Cup semi-final at Mohali, where Pakistan lost by 29 runs to India's 260. "I took a painstaking journey for that game," he replied. "I crossed into India after traveling from Sri Lanka to Karachi and Sialkot. Mistakes happen, but we could have won the game. The game involves both wins and defeats.
Perhaps the darkest period in Pakistan's cricket history is currently underway.

They have not advanced to the knockout stages of the last four ICC white-ball competitions and ended the most recent World Test Championship cycle at the bottom of the standings.
Recalling his catchphrase, "Hota hay bhai hota hay, khel mein aisa hota hay, kabhi agay kabhi peechay, kabhi khushi kabhi ghum, kabhi tum, kabhi hum," Chacha, like many Pakistani fans, is unhappy but holds out hope that things would turn around soon. Defeat is a component in the game. Sometimes the opponent is ahead of you, and sometimes you are ahead of them. It contains both happy and sad moments. They'll win sometimes, and we'll win other times.