Was Imran Khan really a mango fan?

Yes, he was publicly associated with Mianwali Anwar Ratol throughout his playing career and beyond.

Is there an official cricket-and-mango event?

The All-Pakistan Mango Cricket Cup runs annually in Multan. Smaller diaspora tournaments echo the tradition in the UK.

What's the classic Pakistani cricket-watching mango drink?

Mango sherbet, fresh pulp, sugar, water, lemon juice, served chilled over ice. Sometimes spiked with cardamom.

Mango and Pakistani cricket, a cultural pairing

The seasonal overlap

Pakistan's mango season (late May to September) overlaps almost exactly with the international cricket summer (May to August). For a Pakistani household, the two are inseparable.

A cricket match on TV with a carton of mangoes on the coffee table is the single most replicated summer ritual in the country.

1992 World Cup mythology

Pakistan's 1992 Cricket World Cup victory happened in March, off-season, but the celebratory image that endures in popular memory is the post-victory mango feasts that followed throughout that summer.

Imran Khan, the captain, was famously a mango devotee, Mianwali Anwar Ratol was his preferred variety.

Tape-ball games and mango sherbet

Street tape-ball cricket (played with a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape) is the dominant amateur form in Pakistan. Summer games are punctuated by breaks for mango sherbet, fresh pulp with sugar, water and lemon.

Many Pakistani households still keep a pitcher of mango sherbet in the fridge throughout June and July specifically for cricket afternoons.

The mango-shaped cricket trophy

The All-Pakistan Mango Cricket Cup is a real (though minor) tournament played each July in Multan, with prizes including crates of Honey Chaunsa.

The trophy is a polished brass mango, a curiosity that has appeared in several Pakistani sports magazines.

The UK diaspora version

Pakistani diaspora cricket clubs in the UK (Birmingham, Bradford, East London) maintain the mango-and-cricket pairing, summer matches often involve mango cartons brought by team members.

A few clubs run informal 'best mango' competitions during the tea break, a charming low-stakes echo of the formal Pakistani festivals.

Frequently asked

Was Imran Khan really a mango fan?: Yes, he was publicly associated with Mianwali Anwar Ratol throughout his playing career and beyond.
Is there an official cricket-and-mango event?: The All-Pakistan Mango Cricket Cup runs annually in Multan. Smaller diaspora tournaments echo the tradition in the UK.
What's the classic Pakistani cricket-watching mango drink?: Mango sherbet, fresh pulp, sugar, water, lemon juice, served chilled over ice. Sometimes spiked with cardamom.