From the iSport Cricket Pavilion: How often does an opportunity arise when you witness two cricket crazy nations battle it out and that too in the semi-final of the World Cup? iSporter Hirok Banerjee talks about India, Pakistan, the much awaited semi-final at Mohali.
Never before has a battle between the two of the most passionate cricket playing nations appearing to be a no contest. While it is considered to be foolish to undermine the enemy or a competitor, be it in a battle or sport, if one were to look at it with cold logic, the India Pakistan semi-final on Wednesday appears to be headed in only one direction.
Through the 1980s, whenever India played Pakistan, and it was mostly in Sharjah, Pakistan prevailed on most occasions. Only in the mid 1990s when the likes of Ganguly and Dravid came into the picture did it turn into a battle of equals. Very few of the games between these two countries have been one-sided and hardly any which India has won comprehensively.
But today, if one were to look at the two sides, it would take some persuasion for the most objective of students of the game to unequivocally proclaim that its a 'mother of all battles". In effect, it could turn out to be a damp squib with the home team romping to the finals of the 10th World Cup. Here is why.
Let us look at the batting of both the sides. Man to man, India's weakest link could be identified as Suresh Raina (considering the Australia match, it does sound a bit preposterous). Yet, pit him against Pakistan's best batsman Umar Akmal and the comparison does not appear too outlandish. We have not yet got Sachin, Sehwag, Virat and Yuvraj into the picture. Simply put, we can bat Pakistan out of the match.
It is on the bowling front that Pakistan has its nose ahead. While Umar Gul neutralizes Zaheer Khan, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi are far more lethal than the Harbhajan-Ashwin combine. If India goes into the semifinal with an unchanged side, which it should, then it would be expected that two out of their seven batsmen will fire. That should be more than what Pakistan can chase down or put up. So, in the final analysis, it boils down to the age-old question which has defined this rivalry - "Does India have the batting firepower to counter Pakistan's bowling?"
For once the answer seems to be at worst - too lame, at best - too obvious. Wednesday's match for all its hype and hoopla may turn out to be one emphatic Indian victory. Anything less than that should be looked upon as a disappointment by Dhoni and his men.
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a guest
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... Perhaps this match is not a point for us ( we Indian ), our main concern is justice after 26 / 11. WE DON'T WANT ENTERTAINMENT ON THE DEADBODIES OF OUR FAMILYMEMBERS. |
Asif Khan
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... Hirok, I hope it works out how you are predicting and considering the match is being played in India I am confident India will win it comprehensively. But the highly rated Indian batting lineup can easily crack and it's not like it has never happened before, in this tournament itself. Same with the Indian bowling which can be put to sword as it was done by the S. Africans and the English. My advice to the Indian team and fans in general don't be overconfident, remember India v Sri Lanka in 1996 World Cup? |
Asif Khan
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... Dear Guest1, I hope that you do realize that Pakistan is a country of millions and not a group of few hundred terrorist who play cricket when not bombing others. Just like we have right wing, left wing, Islamic, naxals, RSS, VHP organisations who terrorize people under different guises. They have their problems too. Not playing Cricket will not solve any of it. If you don't want to watch then don't let others enjoy, don't spoil their fun. In short get a life |
Nupur Gadkari
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... Dear Guest, This is in the spirit of cricket and is not ound by politics. Let the games begin! |
a guest
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... @ Guest: I agree on the principle that sporting ties between nations are linked to their political relationship. That is a debate or discussion for another day. @ Asif: In 1996, India were not the favourites. In fact, every team was mauled by the Lankans in the group stage. This is different. Just by logic, India should win. If not, it should be termed as the greatest disappointment in Indian cricket. This is the best chance India has ever had. |
a guest
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... if matches were 2 b played on paper, v shud have won the world cup even before the tournament began!!! |
a guest
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... Umar Akmal is not the best batsman Pak has. For consistency I would pick a Younis Khan or Misbah ahead of him. Going by the form parameter and not by reputation, Asad Shafiq and Gambhir cancel each other out. Yuvi is better than Younis. Misbah and Dhoni are in similar poor form. Umar and Virat similar. Razzak has more game changing potential than Raina and then pak has Afridi at 8 who,even after the wretched form, is a factor against India always. So its the top two openers that provide the difference. In my opinion, the match will be Gul/Shoaib vs Sachin/Viru at the beginning of the Indian innings and then Zak/Ashwin vs Misbah/ Younis with the old ball of pak innings. These two battles should be the decider and considering the even deck of Mohali will suit new ball bowlers more than it would suit spinners/old ball wizards, I would say advantage pak. |
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