This archive report was first published on 7 July 2019.
Cricket fans born and raised in England often find themselves torn between their love for the sport and their cultural heritage. A recent trend has emerged where British Asians, despite being English-born, tend to support India or Pakistan in international cricket matches.
According to a BBC report, this cultural phenomenon is not unique to the current Cricket World Cup. Pavan Patel, a 21-year-old Englishman of Indian descent, explained his reasons for supporting India: "It helps me to stay in touch with my Indian roots. The atmosphere that's created when an India game is on, it just adds to the emotional connection. That's really why I support India ahead of England."
Radio 1 reported that this cultural clash is not an uncommon occurrence. Many cricket fans born and raised in England, with family ties to another country, often choose to support their familial country over England.
Interestingly, this trend is not limited to cricket. A survey by BBC Asian Network found that 77.9% of British Asians born in the UK support the home nations in international football tournaments. Pavan Patel attributed this to the greater diversity of background in football, saying, "You see players from every background." He also pointed to Raheem Sterling, a black England international who has spoken out against racism in football, saying, "I've heard about his background and his struggles. You see more of yourself in the England football team than the cricket team."
Published on July 7, 2019.
