<\/p>\n
The emotions came all at once \u2014 anxiety, stress, happiness, excitement and even fear; but I was not going to let all those feelings get in the way of what was to come.<\/p>\n
On a regular day at the office, sunk into my creaky chair at the Dawn<\/em> sports desk, I received the most awaited phone call of my life. Coincidentally, this was during Pakistan\u2019s match against Sri Lanka, which brought us the record for the highest chase in a cricket World Cup<\/a>, as Abdullah Shafique had my eyes glued to the television.<\/p>\n I wouldn\u2019t say I was expecting it, but I had surely prayed and hoped this day would come.<\/p>\n On the other side of the phone was the head of the visa office at the Indian High Commission. Apparently, I had been selected as one of the few journalists from Pakistan who were allowed to apply for a visa<\/a> to cover the 50-over Cup. In true impostor-syndrome fashion, the first thing I did was confirm if was someone playing a prank on me. Thankfully, it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n It has been decade-long dream to cover big sporting events; it\u2019s what drove me to become a sports journalist. Visiting India too had always been on my bucket list, especially due to my ancestral roots. Both these things coming together made it all the more exhilarating.<\/p>\n The dream comes to life<\/h2>\n