IS IT merely hype or the contest between the two archrivals, India and Pakistan, in the ICC cricket world cup semi final deserves such an attention? The epic battle between India and Pakistan has been billed as clash of titans, some have gone further by terming it as the mother of all cricketing encounters.
Today in Mohali, the second India vs Pakistan world cup semifinal will witness all sorts of events, emotions will run high, players will be pouring their hearts out to see their team attain triumph in the epic battle.
The environment across the country is euphoric, people are absolutely drowned in the cricket fever in the anticipation of India Vs Pakistan world cup semifinal match being played in Mohali. Media too is adding fuel to the excitement as there are persistent discussions, reports about the huge Indo-Pak cricket contest every day.
Former war horses too have plunged into the war between India and Pakistan in world cup semifinal. Players such as Saurav Ganguly, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Imran Khan, Inzmam, Waseem Akram, Javed Miandad and Rameez Raza are seen in print and electronic media offering their advice and expert opinion on the all important battle.
Schools, colleges, offices everywhere its cricket, cricket and cricket. At many places cricket frenzied people have organised worships, rallies in support of Men in Blue playing the India Vs Pakistan world cup semifinal match in Mohali today.
Amid sizzling cricket environment, Indian prime minister has invited his Pakistani counterpart, Yusuf Raza Gillani to watch the match. The meeting against the backdrop of cricket has been termed as cricket diplomacy. It remains to be seen whether this cricket diplomacy will bear any fruit or is it a mere photo opportunity to grab media coverage and keep in shade millions of people from both side of the borders.
Speculations were rife that Pakistani pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar might get a chance to display his might once again at the start of the match; however, they were all doused as Pakistan fielded an unchanged side that had whitewashed West Indies in the quarter final.
Indian team too surprised everybody by leaving emerging spinner, R. Ashwin from the squad. Tried and tested, Ashish Nehra has been preferred over the rookie spinner.
The team that will hold its nerves in crunch situation is bound to clinch the battle.
Team India
V Sehwag, SR Tendulkar, G Gambhir, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, SK Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, MM Patel, A Nehra
Team Pakistan
Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi*, Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal
Lets hope India’s star studded batting line up proves its worth today with flying colors and takes team India to the ICC cricket world cup final. The winner of today’s match will face Sri Lanka in the final to be held on Saturday on April 2 in Mumbai.
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