Watching the show - with its well-articulated analysis interspersed with compelling anecdotes and good-

natured ribbing - almost felt like spending time with a group of friends talking about cricket around a
table.

And that's what The Pavilion was always meant to be, says Salman Iqbal - the owner of ARY media group,
the production company which runs the show.

"We focused on keeping it conversational and light-hearted, and rely on experts to give their cricketing
opinion but try not to overcomplicate anything," said Mr Iqbal.

"You wouldn't see negativity and toxicity in the show."

The Pavilion

IMAGE SOURCE,THE PAVILION ON YOUTUBE

Image caption,

The latest edition of the show was aired during the 2023 World Cup

But the show's huge popularity in India still took him and others by surprise.

Several Indian cricketers, including former captains Kapil Dev and Sourav Ganguly, have appreciated its
format. Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, a fan of the sport, called it "arguably the best cricket show on
the World Cup" because it had "no jingoism, no noise, just solid analysis and truth-telling by former
players".

Many have compared The Pavilion's success with that of Coke Studio - a long-running Pakistani music
programme that also has thousands of Indian admirers.

Akram - a legendary Pakistani fast bowler - told the BBC that The Pavilion was enjoyable for everyone
because it was "just an honest show".

"We just played ourselves. A bit of fun, banter, jokes, stories and, of course, most importantly the
cricket," he said.
The show defeating hate between India and Pakistan

India and Pakistan share an intense cricket rivalry, and both countries have been known to come to a
standstill when their teams lock horns on the field.

But political tensions have meant that cricket often takes a back seat. The two teams haven't toured
each other or played a bilateral series in several years.

This year, it was initially unclear if Pakistan team would even travel to India for the World Cup. They
eventually did.

A Pakistani flag and an Indian flag in the crowd during the cricket World Cup

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

Image caption,

An India-Pakistan cricket match is one of the most intense sporting contests

Abhishek Mukherjee - head of content at the reputed cricket media house Wisden India - says it's
difficult to explain India-Pakistan tensions to outsiders but adds that the love for The Pavilion is a
testament to people in both countries who maintain a deep fondness for each other's culture.

During the World Cup, clips from the show were widely shared on social media in India, especially the
ones in which the panellists praised Rohit Sharma's team.

One of the most popular episodes had Akram defending Indian bowlers after some in Pakistan accused
them of cheating at the World Cup. "I want to have the same thing these guys are having," Akram said in
reference to the critics, adding he would request them not to "open us to ridicule from the world".

Wasim Akram

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

Image caption,

Former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram is one of the most famous names in cricket

Mr Mukherjee says the show didn't attempt to malign any country, which was refreshing to watch.
"When they talked about Indian cricket, there was never any effort to bring down India," he said. "They
were just discussing another team that was playing well.

Besides, the analysis on the show was "top notch", he added.

Other factors also helped the show become popular in India despite not being broadcast on a TV channel
in the country.

The panellists spoke in English, Urdu and Punjabi - languages that many Indians also understand. The
former players who appeared on The Pavilion were popular in India and their presence evoked a sense of
nostalgia.

The undying charm of an India-Pakistan cricket match

"I grew up in the 2000s. The players in the show - Misbah-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram, Moin Khan - were
people I grew up fearing and respecting as an Indian fan," says Amrit Patnaik, who lives in India's Orissa
state. "It was really nice to see the same players say such amazing things about India."

Mr Mukherjee says the show also filled a vacuum as there was no other comparable cricket show on
Indian TV during the World Cup, despite the country hosting the tournament.

Coverage on Star Sports - the official broadcaster of the tournament - was very "India centric", he said.