People queue up to collect tickets for the match at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Nov. 4: Sweat dripping from her brows under an unusually harsh November sun, 16-year-old Anusuya Baruah waited for nearly four hours to get a ticket for the India-Australia ODI here on Sunday. She loves cricket but, more importantly, she adores Yuvraj Singh.

Die-hard fans of the game may not share the petite sophomore’s obsession with one man but, in the end, this is what cricket is all about — the passion of fans, who love the game or its players.

Cricket lovers in Guwahati are more than ecstatic as international competition returns to the city after the bitter disappointment of November 29 last year when the India-England match was cancelled after the English team returned home in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

On April 9, 2006, another match between India and England had to be abandoned because of bad weather. This had triggered crowd violence. The incident had cast a doubt on whether the city would ever be allotted another ODI. No wonder, cricket lovers are keeping their fingers crossed.

“You never know what can happen in the next few days. The weather may turn bad and we will be left in the lurch once again,” said Animesh Baruah, a young fan.

But there is no denying the fact that the city is eagerly waiting for this Sunday. As tickets for the Sunday’s match went on sale yesterday, cricket lovers descended with a vengeance on Latasil ground, where the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) had set up counters.

“We had to wait two years to see India play here. There is no way I am going to miss this match,” Anusuya said today as she waited with friends in the long queue.

What has infused a new level of enthusiasm to the Guwahati game is the fact that both the teams look equally strong. They are going into the fifth game at Hyderabad tomorrow with a score of two matches each.

No wonder, all eyes in Guwahati will be glued to television sets when India take on the Aussies tomorrow as the result will have a direct bearing on the Guwahati match.

“After the Hyderabad tie, the Guwahati match, too, will be very exciting,” said Akash Saikia, another college student.

“Whoever wins tomorrow, the Guwahati match will see one team trying to level the series and the other trying to win it. I hope India comes for the kill in Guwahati,” he added.

When the England match was cancelled last year, India were leading the seven-match series 5-0, which meant that the Guwahati match was of academic interest only.

For those interested in statistics, India have played 10 matches in Guwahati and won five of them. The men in blue have lost thrice and two matches have been cancelled or abandoned. The last time India played at Nehru Stadium, they took on Pakistan on November 5, 2007, and defeated them by five wickets.

“A packed house is a forgone conclusion. The interest in the match is understandable given the position of the close-fought series,” said Achyut Borthakur, the liaison officer attached to ICC match referee Chris Broad.

BCCI junior selector Rajesh Borah sounded equally upbeat about the tie because Guwahati fans had missed the last one-dayer with England.

“The pitch appears to be good for batting. The fans are in for a treat as, strength-wise, both teams are on a par,” he said. “However, I must add that India has a slight edge.”

Kamrup district (metro) deputy commissioner Prateek Hajela said the city was ready for the Sunday and requested fans to bear with the administration on the security front for smooth conduct of the match.

“All measures required for the smooth conduct of the game are in place. The fans should co-operate with us and enjoy the game,” he said.

The two teams will arrive in the city on Friday.