Fans keep the faith as reigning Sixes champs take a tumble

WITH flags waving, drums beating and the rising crescendo of voices chanting ''Inzaman, Inzaman'', the Kowloon Cricket Club could have passed for Karachi yesterday as hundreds of Pakistanis cheered the reigning champions at the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes.

Even when Pakistan suffered an ignominious defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, the fans kept the faith and kept the green flags flying.

The enthusiasm of a capacity 5,000 crowd for the exciting two-day event began to mirror Hong Kong's other abbreviated sporting success - the Rugby Sevens.

And the similarities did not end there. Sporting superstars apart, copious amounts of beer was consumed by thirsty fans.

Fans were regularly looking skyward as West Indians Richie Richardson and Viv Richards, Pakistan's Inzaman Ul-Haq and New Zealand's Rod Latham smashed the ball all over and out of the small, picturesque park.

But with the crowd adept at ducking, diving and dodging the missile-like shots no-one was hit and the first-aid officers had a quiet day.