Fans rally to first T20 International despite clouds hanging over cricket

There was a mood of quiet determination among the crowd watching the Twenty20 match between England and Pakistan in Cardiff. Fans of Pakistan seemed determined to express support for the players not caught up in the scandal; England fans, many of them families with cricket-mad children, were determined to enjoy the day despite the torrent of allegations. "This is the first time I've been to an international cricket match," said 22-year-old Ali Bilal, born in Pakistan, now a resident of Cardiff and the only player of Asian origin in his local cricket club in the Vale of Glamorgan where he is a "decent" all-rounder. "I feel shame at what is supposed to have gone on. White friends ask me what it's all about and I don't know what to say. But I'm still excited to be at the game." His friend Hikmat Sahil, 18, who is from Afghanistan but lives in Swansea, said he would normally support England. "But I'll shout for Pakistan today. I think Pakistan need me a bit more than England." When the teams were welcomed there were bigger cheers for Pakistan, although there were also some boos thrown in. Inevitably dropped catches and misfields in the warm-up prompted jokes about how much had been wagered on those eventualities. "It's sad when you get suspicious about just about every event you're seeing," said Steve Hampton, 44, from Hampshire. "I've caught myself wondering if someone's betting on whether a certain player is wearing a cap or what music the cheerleaders are going to dance to. That's sad." Abdul Hassan, 34, from Cardiff, was sitting with his two sons, 12 and 10. "It's tricky explaining to them what is happening," he said. "They both love cricket and this is their first big game at a stadium. It's such a pity that there's a scandal hanging over it all. If it's not sorted out, it will wreck cricket."