Jai Hind

Third Man – Edition 9 – Indo Pak Special  

Today’s Edition is a special for Indian fans as it covers the much awaited India Pakistan clash at Mohali tomorrow. Before getting in to the Match preview, let’s get into World Cup News...

World Cup news

      After the world cup disaster, Ricky ponting has stepped down as the Captain of Australia; however, he will continue as a batsman in both versions of the game.

      New Zealand Srilanka clashes in the 1^st Semi final at Colombo; Sri Lanka starts as favourites but New Zealand is determined for an upset win.

      The prime Mister of India and Pakistan are likely to watch the Match at Mohali, adding to the buzz and hype prevailing in both the countries for this match.

      If India (or Pakistan) and Sri Lanka meets in the final, this will be the first time where 2 Asian countries contest in the final for the coveted Trophy.

 The Big match- Clash of the Asian Giants – Is it just a match or War??

 IS this the best rivalry in Cricket? Australia and England may disagree, but the truth is Indo Pakistan clash is the biggest rivalry of Cricket and both the team plays, the heart beat increases, adrenalin pumps for the millions of fans across the world.  Afridi might have played down the hype that is prevailing around for this match by terming this is just a game and a war, HeBut he knows the winners will be worshipped as GOD and the losers will have a tough time.

  History favours India as we have never lost to Pakistan in a world cup match. Out of the 4 world cup chases (3 in League and 1 Knock out during 1996 world cup) India has won all the 4 and Pakistan has returned home with empty hands. But this world cup is different, the two favourites for this tournament- Australia and S Africa has gone home with their defeat at the Quarter Finals stage. Afridi might be intelligent in saying his team is there to change history, but Team India has the potential and Talent to beat any team in the world.

  Who can forgot the sixes hit by Sachin and Sehwag to third man, which set the tone for a comfortable 5 wicket victory?  Who can forget the murderous Assault by Jadeja, taking on Waqar Younis in 1996 and helped the team to

put up  huge score? Who can forget the confrontation between Amir Sohail and Venkatesh Prasad and Prasad dismissing Sohail, the next ball and giving the marching orders to the Pavilion?

    The best of India Pakistan clashes

India Pakistan clashes has always brought the best out of the players and lets rewind the calendar to see the best of the clashes between the 2 Asian giants.

The rivalry started when Javed Miandad hit a last ball six off chetan sharma to take his team to an unbelievable victory at sharjah. After this, Indo Pak clashes has become more than just a sport and the fans goes crazy across the borders. Here are some of the memorable Ind Pak chases

      Saeed Anwars 194 at Chennai which became the world record for the Highest Individual score in ODI till it was broken by Sachin’s 200* against South Africa.

      Anil Kumble’s perfect 10 at 1999, Feros Shah kotla.

      Shoaib Akthars firely spell at Kolkatta removing Sachin and Dravid in consecutive deliveries bowled over 150 kph.

      Irfan Pathan’s first over hat trick on the historic tour of Pakistan in 2005

      The heroics of Sachin that took India to a spectacular victory in 2003 world cup

      The suicidal shot by Misbah of Joginer sharma that safely landed in to the hands of sreesanth; India became the winners of the T20 world cup 2007.

      The tied match at the same T20 world cup tournament, where both the teams had to “Bowl out” and India won on this occasion too.

 India Pakistan world cup Team 2003 VS 2011 – A comparison

  Here is an interesting comparison between the India Vs Pakistan teams that contested in 2003 and 2011 WC.

Pakistan                      India

Saeed Anwar		SR Tendulkar
Taufeeq Umar		V Sehwag
Abdul Razzaq		SC Ganguly*
Inzamam-ul-Haq		M Kaif
Yousuf Youhana		R Dravid†
Younis Khan		Yuvraj Singh
Shahid Afridi		D Mongia,
Rashid Latif†		A Kumble
Wasim Akram		Z Khan,
Waqar Younis		J Srinath
Shoaib Akhtar		A Nehra
Mohammad Sami		Sanjay Bangar
Saleem Elahi		Harbhajan Singh
Saqlain Mushtaq		Ajit Agarkar

                              

  Players highlighted in green denotes they played in 2003 and still a part of the 2011 campaign; Interesting to note that 6 players from 2003 Team are still Playing for Team India; Only 3 players are playing in the current Pakistan team. As far as batsman is concerned it is fine as Sehwag and Sachin are priceless possession and both of them are continuing their good form.

   Considering Yuvraj as a bowler, as he bowls his full quota of over’s almost in every game in this world cup, 4 bowlers are still playing for India from the 2003 version. The bowling line up is exactly the same with Srinath and Kumble retired. Zaheer, Nehra and Harbhajan are still leading the bowling attack for Team India. With regard to Pakistan, only Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Akthar are the surviving players in both the world cup.

  Has India’s bowling line up not changed for 8 years because they are the best bowling attack in the Country? Certainly not. The Indian selection system has been so poor that apart from promoting Irfan and Ishant, they have not given opportunities’ to new bowlers and try them out over a period of time. Our bowling is the main worry for Team India, considering their uninspiring performances in this world cup so far. The truth of the fact is, Zaheer, Nehra and Harbhajan are still playing not because they are the best in the country, but there of no options available or no new talent have been tried out by the current system.  Hope at least in next world cup, we see a different bowling attack with fast bowlers bowling in the mid 140’s and spinners turning the ball and taking wickets.

Match Preview- India Vs Pakistan , Mohali, 30^th March 2011

At last, India is playing a match against Pakistan and first time in history, they are contesting in the Semi finals of a world cup campaign. This will be a contest between the talented and penetrative Pakistan bowling attack Vs The best batting line up of the tournament. Fans from both the countries are praying for their team to win and around 5000 fans are trying to cross the borders to view this match live. Thanks to the black marketing of tickets prevailing in our country, an average cricket fan cannot watch this match live. Cricket has become expensive affair and only people in the upper middle class or upper class gets an opportunity to watch the prestigious matches while the crazy fans has to cope up with the lathi charges, bruises on their body and return home without ticket.

     Fans across the borders are charged up for this match and I am sure every household in India and Pakistan and millions of fan across the world will be glued to their televison set just to watch this match. There will be plenty of absenteeism reported in schools, college and work place and sick, especially pre planned sick leaves at work place : ) 

  There will be unprecedented security arrangement for this match, as Prime ministers of both the country will be arriving to watch this match live. Players might say this is yet another cricket match, but there will be no doubts over the intensity of the match and the performers in this match will be hailed at National heroes. Who knows?? Ashish Nehra might play tomorrow and bowl the last over and take Team India to victory…A zero might become a Hero with his performance in this match.

Players to watch out for

India

Sachin

 The master might get his 100^th International hundred and help Team India to win.  There are sentiments going around that Sachin gets a hundred and India loses. I would still back Sachin to get a 99 and get out, if it can help Team India to win.

Sehwag

   The Dasher from Delhi has not fired apart from the opening match and if it is his day India is going to beat Pakistan.

Yuvraj

 The player of the tournament for India with the ball and bat. He has been the finisher for Team India and if he fires tomorrow with ball and bat, certainly India is going to win.

Zaheer

Zaheer is our best bowler and if he takes couple of early wickets, it will be advantage Team India. He is the best to bowl in powerplays along with Aswhin.

Aswin   

“Aswin- India Win”. Aswin has been the turning point for India in this tournament with his confidence and variety in the power play over’s. He has never backed away from taking responsibilities and looks like he is the one who is giving balance to the depleted Indian bowling attack.

Pakistan

Afridi

   The inspiration leader for Pakistan and he has already leading wicket takers for this tournament with 21 wickets. Don’t forget , he can bat too. If he clicks with both bat and ball, it wont be a good news for us.

Shoaib Akthar:  This controversial bowler has announced his retirement and will be raring to play and give his best for his country one last time against India. We can expect 140 + speeds from him tomorrow and hope those are clobbered to the boundaries.

  

 Misbah and Younis

Misbah and Younis are the one who has got to score runs in the middle order with the openers and rest of the batting has not got the experience and tempartment to play in big matches. 

Umar Gul

 The best bowler of Pakistan for some time and he has got the ability to bowl in power plays and also the reverse swinging Yorkers when the ball gets old. If Gul strikes early, it will be advantage Pakistan.

Lets hope and pray for an Indian victory