The stage is set for the big battle between Pakistan and India at the Centurion Park here on Saturday (today).
A capacity crowd is expected to watch one of the most anticipated Champions Trophy matches with all eyes focussed on the resurgent Greenshirts following their success in the Twenty20 World Cup this summer.
An India-Pakistan match is always special - a contest between two equally fanatical cricketing nations with a bitter rivalry between the sub-continental neighbours. It is a match that seems to bring out the best and the worst in the players as well as the fans and Saturday's encounter is bound to be no different.
The Indians have been far from convincing during their only warm-up match against New Zealand. The Kiwis dented their pride, beating them by over an hundred runs. As if that was not enough, Yuvraj Singh's injury added further pressure on the team. With Virender Sehwag already nursing injury back, India would miss the services of a big-hitter in the match that is bound to produce high scores.
Indians now have to look up to Sachin Tendulkar to do the trick against their arch-rivals. Opener Gautam Gambhir has been declared fit and available for Saturday's match.
On the contrary, everything has gone in favour of Pakistan since their arrival in South Africa. They defeated Sri Lanka by a huge margin in the warm-up match, and also won against South African state team Warriors in another one-sided match. Though Pakistan's win against West Indies in the opening Champions Trophy match was far from convincing, it was good enough to bring them with in sight of a place in the semifinals. "I think the team has got all the ingredients to beat the best outfit in the competition and India is no exception," Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said.
"Our front-line bowlers have been in good knick. All we need is to crack the Indian top order early," he said.
If Pakistan pacers get a couple of early wickets and bring out India's flaky middle order, then the Indians could be in real trouble as Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni have not been in very good touch lately.
The last time the two teams met in and ODI was in the Asia Cup in July 2008 where Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 308 in an epic battle.
Though Younis Khan has declared himself fit to play against India, Mohammad Asif's inclusion is a doubt.
Pakistan are almost certain to drop out-of-form Imran Nazir from the side in favour of Younis Khan while if the management decides in favour of Asif, Rana Naved would be rested.
This a contest that certainly deserves its primetime Saturday evening slot. While predicting the winner is too difficult a task, what is clear is that this is sure to be an explosive encounter which promises plenty of entertainment.
The pitch at the Centurion Park looks full of runs and gives a dry dull colour with very little or no grass at all.
Victory against India would almost put Pakistan in the semifinals of the event where their performance has never been satisfactory since its inception eleven years back.
Head-to-head
Matches played 117
Pakistan wins 68
India wins 45
Four matches produced No Result
A capacity crowd is expected to watch one of the most anticipated Champions Trophy matches with all eyes focussed on the resurgent Greenshirts following their success in the Twenty20 World Cup this summer.
An India-Pakistan match is always special - a contest between two equally fanatical cricketing nations with a bitter rivalry between the sub-continental neighbours. It is a match that seems to bring out the best and the worst in the players as well as the fans and Saturday's encounter is bound to be no different.
The Indians have been far from convincing during their only warm-up match against New Zealand. The Kiwis dented their pride, beating them by over an hundred runs. As if that was not enough, Yuvraj Singh's injury added further pressure on the team. With Virender Sehwag already nursing injury back, India would miss the services of a big-hitter in the match that is bound to produce high scores.
Indians now have to look up to Sachin Tendulkar to do the trick against their arch-rivals. Opener Gautam Gambhir has been declared fit and available for Saturday's match.
On the contrary, everything has gone in favour of Pakistan since their arrival in South Africa. They defeated Sri Lanka by a huge margin in the warm-up match, and also won against South African state team Warriors in another one-sided match. Though Pakistan's win against West Indies in the opening Champions Trophy match was far from convincing, it was good enough to bring them with in sight of a place in the semifinals. "I think the team has got all the ingredients to beat the best outfit in the competition and India is no exception," Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said.
"Our front-line bowlers have been in good knick. All we need is to crack the Indian top order early," he said.
If Pakistan pacers get a couple of early wickets and bring out India's flaky middle order, then the Indians could be in real trouble as Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan and MS Dhoni have not been in very good touch lately.
The last time the two teams met in and ODI was in the Asia Cup in July 2008 where Pakistan successfully chased down a target of 308 in an epic battle.
Though Younis Khan has declared himself fit to play against India, Mohammad Asif's inclusion is a doubt.
Pakistan are almost certain to drop out-of-form Imran Nazir from the side in favour of Younis Khan while if the management decides in favour of Asif, Rana Naved would be rested.
This a contest that certainly deserves its primetime Saturday evening slot. While predicting the winner is too difficult a task, what is clear is that this is sure to be an explosive encounter which promises plenty of entertainment.
The pitch at the Centurion Park looks full of runs and gives a dry dull colour with very little or no grass at all.
Victory against India would almost put Pakistan in the semifinals of the event where their performance has never been satisfactory since its inception eleven years back.
Head-to-head
Matches played 117
Pakistan wins 68
India wins 45
Four matches produced No Result
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