The match that has the subcontinent waiting breathlessly for is here. India versus Pakistan. India has an enviable record against their arch rivals in world tournaments where they have beaten Pakistan four times in the world Cup and lost to them only once in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004.
Pakistan with all players fit and raring to go have a chance to beat India again. Younis Khan’s availability is a big plus for having the appointed skipper is always good for a team. It is he along with the coach who will have strategize about not just playing India but the way to approach the whole tournament and so to have him back at the helm will certainly help Pakistan. Not that Shahid Afridi did a bad job in the game against the West Indies but he can be an excitable character and what is needed in crunch games is a calm cool head and the ability to think beyond the moment. Younis has shown that from the moment Pakistan lost the first game of the ICC World Twenty20 in England when he made light of the whole event and so helped his team to relax and play without inhibitions in the next games and we all saw the result. Pakistan went on to win the trophy. Younis not only helped his team relax but along with Intikhab Alam the coach also made Afridi realize the futility of trying to hit every ball for a six just because the crowd expected it but to stay at the crease for some time after which it would be easier to hit those sixes. Afridi went on to win the next few games with bat and ball and but for Dilshan’s incredible batting exploits in the tourney would have been the man of the tournament.
Afridi will be the key player again simply because of his ability to change the course of the game with bat and ball. In recent times it is as a fastish legspin bowler that he has troubled India and Younis will be looking for him to contain the Indian batting in the middle overs with Afridi’s leggies and Saeed Ajmal’s offspinners. Pakistan also have in Umar Gul a fantastic new ball bowler who has almost perfected the art of bowling yorkers in the death overs. Young Mohammad Amer is clearly enjoying bowling on the responsive South African pitches and with Rana Naved back in the team not only with more experience but with more hair, it is not going to be smooth sailing for the strong Indian batting lineup.
India have suffered another blow with the injury to Yuvraj and with Sehwag and Zaheer already out of the team they will be short of match changing players. Tendulkar and Dravid’s experience will be vital as also Dhoni’s renowned ‘cool’ and if the youngsters Raina and Kohli rise to the occasion then it will be a thriller alright.
The South African pitches may well mean the ressurection of Ishant Sharma and should also help R.P. Singh and Nehra. If Afridi is the danger man from Pakistan then Harbhajan Singh the feisty Sardar is India’s answer to him.
It will be a compulsive combustible contest as always. Who will fire? Can’t wait to find out.
— Professional Management Group
