It was not an ordinary Sunday morning. In fact, it was the day of the Pakistan-India World Cup match. A cricket match between these two teams always felt like a final, even if it wasn’t. Today was no different. The air buzzed with excitement, anticipation and, of course, everlasting hope.

In many households that day, normal conversations sto­pped. Instead, everyone talked about the weather in Colombo, how much it might help the players, the team line-ups and past performances.

It was the same at Ahad’s house. Ahad’s father put down his teacup with a clink and said thoughtfully, “If we win the toss, we should bowl first. Big matches are all about handling pressure.”

“Also, chasing a target has always been difficult for us,” Ahad’s sister added.

“You shouldn’t speak. You don’t even watch cricket,” Ahad said, feeling a bit annoyed by her comment.

“Everyone watches a Pakistan-India match. I just don’t have high expectations,” she shrugged.

After that, everyone left the breakfast table to finish their work for the day before gathering in the TV lounge in the evening.

By the time the toss took place, Ahad and his family were all seated in front of the TV. Ahad held his breath as the coin rose in the air. When Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first, Ahad’s father nodded in satisfaction.

“Good decision,” he said confidently. With that, hope rose in everyone.

India’s openers walked in and the innings began with a thrill for Pakistan. Abhishek Sharma was out for a duck in the very first over. The entire living room erupted in disbelief and excitement. It felt like the perfect start, the kind you pray for before such a big match. Ahad could feel his heart pounding as he clenched his fists, hardly able to sit still.

But the excitement didn’t last long. Ishan Kishan stepped in and completely shifted the mood of the game. He played with confidence and control, timing the ball beautifully. His shots were smooth and effortless, and every time he hit the ball over the fielders, it felt like the match was slipping away. Watching him score 77 runs off just 40 balls was frustrating; each boundary made the crowd on the screen cheer while the TV lounge slowly fell quiet.

India kept the score moving and ended with 175 runs. Ahad could feel his hope starting to fade.

When Pakistan came out to bat, it never really felt like they had the momentum they needed. The top players kept losing their wickets at the wrong moments. Every time someone tried to build a good partnership, it fell apart too soon. Everyone shouted suggestions at the TV as if the players could hear them. But wickets kept falling, and soon Pakistan were all out for just 114 runs. India had won by 61 runs.

Feeling disappointed, everyone went to their own rooms, not knowing what to say. As Ahad lay in his bed scrolling through messages and funny memes, he knew they would wake up tomorrow and argue about what went wrong. They would wish that next time would be different. And when Pakistan faces India again, everyone will be right back in front of the television, hearts racing and voices ready to cheer.

This is because hope, like the love for cricket, never really fades.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 7th, 2026

Fried items are a staple of the iftar table, but they are not very healthy to eat every day. So, today I am sharing a very easy recipe for bread pockets. You can easily make these in an air fryer, but if you don’t have one, you can try baking them in the oven instead.

Since almost all the ingredients we are using are already cooked, except for the egg coating, we only need to toast the outside until it is crispy and golden. You can change the filling to anything you like.

You could even experiment with a different filling each time to create totally different flavours. The same goes for the shape; use your creativity to turn them into balls or whatever else you fancy.

So, let’s check out how to make these very easy yet yummy bread pockets!

Ingredients

• 1 handful of chicken tikka chunks
• 1/2 cup chopped & sautéed vegetables (carrots, capsicum, green onion, etc.)
• Sauces of choice
• 2-4 slices of bread
• 1-2 slices of cheese (optional)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• A little oil (for brushing)

Method

In a bowl, combine tikka chunks, veggies and sauce.

Cut the crust off of the slices of bread. Roll the bread slices out flat with a rolling pin.

Add a teaspoon of fillings in the centre. Put a quarter slice of cheese on top. Cover with another flattened slice of bread.

Seal the edges with a fork. Dip it in egg wash. Cover in breadcrumbs. Brush with oil.

Air fry at 180°C for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Serve with chutney and enjoy.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 7th, 2026