Cricket World Cup Fever blankets Pakistan and India

India goes up against Pakistan. Finally, the time has come. This is the second semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2011 and the headlines are calling this the match of matches as these two arch-rivals face off in a do or die situation. Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali is going to be ground zero on March 30 where only one team will leave victorious with the honour to go up against Sri Lanka who defeated New Zealand in the first semi-final. Whatever the outcome, this will be the first time in cricket history that the final will be played by two Asian teams.

 

Do you feel the tension? I see that one writer is saying that India has an edge over Pakistan as these two teams have met four times in nine previous World Cups and India has won all four games. Hey, let’s not jinx this for anybody! Then again, I can’t help myself in mentioning that India has the record for the highest score ever during their 2007 match against Bermuda, 413 to 5 and they also got a record for the highest winning margin (runs) with 257. Yes, the Men in Green are going to be under a lot of pressure.

 

Despite the differences, let’s not forget that both teams are evenly matched which is going to make the game that much more fun. Both of them share the triumph of having defeated Australia. Pakistan broke their winning streak on March 19 in Colombo while India knocked them out of the tournament on March 24 in Ahmedabad, India.

 

However there is even more to this historic match. It seems that this game represents an opening on the diplomatic front for two nuclear-armed antagonists who have been at each other’s throats since 1947. Today the only blood that will be spilt will be figurative. At least that is what one hopes as security around this game has been tight all week.

 

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has received a direct invitation from his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh to attend and it is hoped that this match represents a diplomatic breakthrough for the fragile peace process between these two warring neighbours. Singh wants to revive formal talks that were broken off two years ago when Pakistan-based militants killed 166 people in a terror attack on Mumbai. If there is a political breakthrough, cricket may achieve for India and Pakistan what table tennis did for the US and China.

 

The game gets started in the middle of the night here in Canada (4:30 AM EST) so you better have your video recorder set up to tape the event or you better set your alarm clock early, very early. 

 

Don’t forget that this semi-final is the final step to April 2 and the final. On that date in Mumbai, India, the world will find out just who is team number one in the world.

 

Times Now Online – Mar 29/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXEqgPTX6Dw