JEDDAH, 24 September 2007 — Tremendous excitement grips Indian and Pakistani expatriates over the ICC World Twenty20 championship final in South Africa today.
India stunned championship favorites Australia by 15 runs in Durban in the semifinal on Saturday. Pakistan scored a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the first semifinal match played in Cape Town.
Some subcontinent expatriates said yesterday they had made full preparations to watch the final. “At least a dozen of my friends are coming home to view the match live at my residence,” Khurshid Mohammed, a Pakistani carpet factory worker at the Jeddah Industrial City, said. “Whatever the outcome, we will be happy as the inaugural championship will remain with the subcontinent,” said Khurshid who has played cricket back home.
“The final is going to be a very exciting one. Pakistan’s strength lies in its bowling attack and India has depth in batting, and this is sure to provide a contest. It largely depends on which side bats first and how it performs during the first 10 overs,” Muzaffar Hussain, sales manager of PIA and member of Jeddah Cricket League (JCL), said.
Aijaz Khan, also of JCL, said: “India can win because they are bold, dashing and positive, and have demonstrated a team spirit. Indian captain (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni is leading from the front both in batting and wicketkeeping, and has been a source of motivation for his team. India’s performance in this tournament shows they do not need a foreign team manager; they may have a foreign physiotherapist. All they need is fine-tuning.
Experienced Indian players should be inducted into their management. India are favorites as they have excelled in all departments of the game.”
Yuvraj Singh is in full form and can turn the tide against Pakistan. In South Africa there are lots of Indian supporters and that will weigh in their favor, he added.
“Both India and Pakistan deserve to be in the final because they have worked their way up and beaten the best sides in the tournament. This is going to be a clash of the decade. It is good for the future of T-20. India are in a better position to win the final,” Afsar Faheem, a JCL member, said.
“Chances are good if India bat first and their openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir give a good start and Yuvraj follows up with what he has done so far,” Kumar Krishnan, also of JCL, said.
“Yuvraj has played a major role in India’s wins in the tournament so far. We will be looking up to Yuvraj Singh to repeat his glorious sixers,” Salman Shaikh, a former cricketer of International Indian School-Jeddah said.” In India’s match against England in the tournament, Yuvraj set two records — one for scoring the fastest 50 in international cricket and the other for hitting six sixers in an over in the Twenty-20. He currently heads the tournament’s list of batsmen for hitting the longest sixer.
“Win or lose is a different matter. The most exciting part of the inaugural tournament is the finalists are from the subcontinent,” Ayub Khan, a Pakistani refrigeration technician and an avid cricket fan said.
“In my opinion, it will be a very competitive match. However, India has an edge as they are playing better. Pakistan has an edge in bowling, but the Indian batting is good. In any case it will be a very interesting match,” Mohammed Iqbal Chaudhry, a JCL member, said.
