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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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India-Pakistan blood and thunder today Elmo Rodrigopulle Reporting from England In whatever sphere, when India and Pakistan meet especially in sport it becomes a blood and thunder encounter. It will be no different when these gladiators meet where the winners progress and the losers go home licking their wounds, vowing to get even the next time. The game that begins at Edgbaston tomorrow will be chockful of interest and no side would want to admit defeat until the final ball is bowled. Not only are the players all keyed up, the supporters of the teams have been frantically grabbing tickets the moment it went on sale. It's going to be a packed house because half an hour after the tickets went on sale, it was all gobbled up. When the two countries resumed sporting ties and India toured Pakistan for a Test and One-day series, the Indians came, they saw and they conquered. And that is how they want to remain at the end of this game. But analysing the performances of the teams in this tournament, the Pakistan have been playing better. But then cricket is a funny game steeped in the glorious uncertainties and only the ignorant would want to even hazard a guess. Pakistan cricket has been going through a major period of transition after greats such as Wasim Akram, Waquar Younis and Saeed Anwar quit. Bob Woolmer, the former England player and who was South African coach when they entered the World Cup final, has taken over as their coach and is confident that he can help them to their former glory. The future of their cricket is in the hands of young guns such as Yasir Hameed and promising allrounder Naveed-ul-Hassan. The experienced trio of skipper Inzamum-ul-Haq, tearaway paceman Shoaib Akhtar, and explosive blaster Sahid Afridi would have to guide them. Pakistan had an easy passage against Kenya at this same venue with leg spinner Afridi returning career best figures of 5 for 11. He will be looking to continue that former which also won for him the man-of-the match award. However the drawcards will be hard hitting Inzamum and 'Rawalpindi Express' Shoaib Akhtar. If Inzamum can get going and if Akhtar finds line, length and speed the Pakistan's chances are rosy. As for India they have been on the verge of something momentous for the best part of a decade. Everytime in a major tournament they play some wonderful cricket, with flair and imagination the chief hallmarks, but in recent history these great displays have been undermined by the odd insipid performance that costs them the chance of glory. They will miss the steadying batting influence of the great Sachin Tendulkar. Virendra Sehwag has suddenly dipped in form and it is hoped that he would regain form and strike. When in full flow he can be classed with former new-ball bashers Gordon Greenidge, Roy Fredricks, Matthew Hayden and Graham Gooch. Skipper Ganguly who opened the innings in the absence of Tendulkar made sparkling 90 against Kenya and it is important that he continues. The ever reliable Rahul Dravid, Mohammed Kaif, the highly regarded V.V.S. Laxman and Yuraj Singh must also contribute. India will be looking to Irfan Pathan, Ashis Nehra and Ajit Agakar to break through early and for Harbhajan to provide the spin sting. The wicket looks good for runs. But with the prevailing conditions aiding seam and swing, the captain winning the toss is likely to ask the other side in. So stay tuned in for cricket that will be nerve wraking and exciting every step of the way. |
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