The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, set to kick off on October 5, 2023, is generating immense excitement among cricket enthusiasts worldwide. One of the most anticipated matches of the tournament is the clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, scheduled to be held at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14.
Earlier this month, Team India and the Pakistani cricket team faced off twice during the Asia Cup 2023, with the Indian team dominating their arch-rivals. The first match was washed out, but in the second match held in Colombo, Team India secured a resounding victory, defeating Pakistan by 228 runs during the Super 4 stage.
As anticipation builds for this high-stakes encounter, the official broadcasters of the ICC Cricket World Cup, Star Sports, are planning to resurrect the famous ‘Mauka Mauka’ TV ad campaign. In a recent viral video, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was seen shooting with Vishal Malhotra, the iconic ‘Mauka Mauka’ character.
The ‘Mauka Mauka’ campaign originally debuted in 2015, created by Star Sports India to promote its broadcast of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Initially conceived for the India-Pakistan group stage match, the campaign garnered overwhelming positive responses, prompting the creation of a series of advertisements for each of India’s matches in the 2015 World Cup. Vishal Malhotra played the role of the Pakistani supporter in the campaign, and the jingle for the advertisement was recorded by singer Alamgir Khan.
In preparation for the upcoming World Cup clash in Narendra Modi stadium, Vishal Malhotra was once again spotted shooting for the ad campaign, this time donning a Pakistan team jersey alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
Meanwhile, in a development related to the tournament, the members of the Pakistan cricket team were issued Indian visas for the ODI World Cup. This came after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) raised serious concerns with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the delay in the national team’s travel to Hyderabad.
It’s worth noting that India and Pakistan cricket teams, owing to the tense relations between the two nations, only face each other in the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments. These limited encounters between the arch-rivals add an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the cricketing world.
