Twitter Alert: World Cup fever hits celebrities

On Twitter this week, Pakistani and Indian celebrities are obsessing over the cricket world cup.

The ICC World Cup 2011 has started and cricket fever is rampant across South Asia. Both Pakistanis and Indians are excited but when it comes to their celebrities, Bollywood seems way more hopeful and enthusiastic about the Indian cricket team compared to Pakistani celebrities.

It was India’s first match against Bangladesh on February 19 and the stars used Twitter to motivate their team, promoting a positive sentiment among the fans.

When it came to Pakistan’s first match against Kenya on Wednesday, most of our celebrities hardly had anything to talk about the win, let alone the match.

Ali Zafar, who used to be obsessed with cricket – updating every hour in his past tweets, this time just sent one update at the end of the match. Perhaps due to his booming Bollywood career? But what happened to Imran Khan, whose Twitter page remained silent on Pakistan’s major cricket match?

Then there are celebrities like Junoon’s Salman Ahmad who continued a live tweet-commentary during the match on Wednesday, impressing his fans who thought he did a better job than the professional commentators.

India and Pakistan both have made a formal entry into the World Cup scene with their first matches. We bring you the tweets of Pakistani and Indian celebrities, what they had to say about the game of their respective cricket teams.

The Express Tribune brings a comparative Twitter Alert with the updates from celebrities across the globe.

Salman Ahmad

Misbah and Younis are my most valuable players in a crisis.

Ali Zafar

Win by 205 runs! It’s a little too much.

Bipasha Basu

Big day today. India will win for sure. Wishing Mahi and his team to do the magic. We want the Cup. Let’s cheer for them.

Akshay Kumar

The greatest festival of every Indian has finally arrived: the cricket World Cup. All the best to all the teams, especially the Indian team.

Asha Bhosle

I don’t know about you but I’ll be glued to the idiot box this afternoon for the first match of the World Cup. Jai Hind!

Diya Mirza

Too much happening with our shoot on right now. Going to miss watching all the World Cup action. Keep me posted. India, let’s go for glory.

Neha Dhupia

Long day at work and I’m only half way through. Envy those who are home, watching the match.

Atiqa Odho

I believe one must stand up against injustice of any kind regardless of personal loss.

Anupam Kher

Like there is always someone happier than you, there is also someone sadder than you. Life isn’t fair, but it is still good.

Conan O’Brien

Charlie Sheen said he’s never been drunk on the set of “Two & A Half Men.” I, too, have never been drunk on the set of “Two & A Half Men.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2011.