Abdul Jalil is using cricket to pursue his mission in life: bringing joy into the lives of his fellow Pakistanis.
"There is so much poverty and illiteracy in Pakistan. They are unemployment problems and people remain in tension. I think cricket is a good way to lift their spirits," Jalil said.
The 57-year-old Jalil is a familiar sight at Pakistan cricket matches, wearing his green robes and cap and waving a national flag.
Jalil, known as "Chacha Pakistani" (Uncle Pakistani), has travelled around the world as the cheerleader of the team and is now paid by the Pakistan Cricket Board to rouse the supporters.
Cricket remains Pakistan's number one sport and the performances of the national team are passionately followed by the population of 150 million.
Jalil saw his first cricket match at Lahore in 1969 when England played Pakistan.
"It has been 36 years now since I have been following cricket and 19 years since I first decided to don this green cloak and cap," he recalled during the first Test against England in Multan this week.
MEMORABLE MATCH
Jalil made his first appearance as the official cheerleader of the Pakistan team at Sharjah in 1986.
It was the match when former captain Javed Miandad hit a last-ball six against India to give Pakistan their first major one-day title.
"That match and moment remain memorable for me. It lifted the profile of our team," said Jalil. "I used to travel from Abu Dhabi, where I worked, for the matches in Sharjah."
"Now the Pakistan cricket board has appointed a 10,000 rupees [$165] monthly stipend for me and they also sponsor some of my trips abroad or else it is not possible for me to carry on like this," Jalil said.
Jalil has been to the last three World Cups courtesy of the board.
Jalil, who hails from the Punjab city of Sialkot, went to India earlier this year when Pakistan toured there and said the response of the Indian people towards him was fantastic.
"They were very good to me. I travelled a total of 58 hours by train around India and everywhere they greeted me with love and affection," he said.
The series was the first on Indian soil in six years between the two countries.
In Multan this week, Jalil is waving two flags instead of one, having decided to add the Union flag in honour of the visitors.
"Cricket should bring people and nations closer together," he said. "After all it is just a game and not war."
