The Asian Super Show at Mohali promises to be the mother of all battles. Both Pakis and Indians highlight their plus points and ignore their own minus points. Pakis says that pressure will be on India, because of the high expectations of their fans. The betters and experts say that Ind are favourites to win this WC. Whereas nobody gave Pak a chance when the tournament started !
'If India were going to win the World Cup, this is their best chance," said Imran Khan, ex captain of Pak. "I am not trying to play mind games, but the fact that they are favourites and are playing at home will means they are under more pressure. My advice to the Indian team is to take sleeping pills, otherwise they won't be able to sleep."
But the Pakis are not going to lose the psychological battle. They know that the number of Paki fans inside the Mohali stadium will be limited to Pak cricket officials and diplomats, even though some Indians may support them.
Afridi said that Sachin will have to wait after the WC for his hundredth hundred and that Pak will not allow any Indian to score a big score at Mohali.
"He will have to wait until after the World Cup. We will make sure no batsman plays a long innings," said the formidable allrounder, Afridi. "India will have more pressure than us. With the crowd cheering every ball, they can get overwhelmed."
It looks like the mother of all battles. The match should be viewed as friendly, and not as surrogate war ( "Sport is surrogate war" - Orwell ).
However, Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam, coach of the talented Pakis, has appealed for calm.
"Let it remain as cricket and don't make us feel as if we are standing on a war front," he said.
Meanwhile, Sangakara has warned against complancency. "It is important to be confident but we should be realistic. New Zealand will be hungry for a place in the final and so are we," said Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
Strauss, the Eng captain, said too much cricket was Eng's undoing. "Its a huge amount to ask players to go to Australia for three months, into the highest intensity atmosphere you can get for an English team, and then go straight into a World Cup without players spending time at home," said Strauss.
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