By Indian Cricket Fever
June 18 2010

All India will for a day forget the Soccer World Cup as it renews its rivalry with arch rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup tomorrow.

The fact that the two teams have not played each other much recently adds to the anticipation.  Also the return of Shoaib Akhtar and the drug-tainted Mohammad Asif besides the excellent Mohammad Aamer, makes the Pakistani bowling line up a formidable one.

India’s batsmen recently in the T20 World Cup showed that they were not the happiest against short-pitched bowling and with the Pakistani speedsters all playing, a rib roasting is on the cards.  That India are without their talisman, Sachin Tendulkar,  or the hugely experience Yuvraj Singh, who seems to relish playing Pakistan, will make them doubly vulnerable.

India’s woes extend to the bowling side too, with Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra looking a bit worn for wear, and with no Ishant Sharma they also have no real young speedster around to take the fight to the opposition.  India will have to rely a lot on Harbhajan Singh, who somehow does not do his best with the ball against the Pakistanis. 

The only vulnerability of the Pakistani’s is their batting which has looked pretty flaky at times.  However in Shahid Afridi they have a batsman who can change a game on his own, and who seems to enjoy batting against India.

So, if  one were to be clinical about it, Pakistan have an edge and should be considered favorites, though in an India-Pakistan match, the form book usually gets thrown out the window, as both teams treat this as a do or die contest, and the team performing on the day, wins the match.  This is what makes the contest so fascinating to watch.  So at least for a day, ditch the vuvuzelas and bring on the dhols.

Rumble In Dumbula

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 18/06/2010 19:53

Indian Cricket Fever
18/06/2010 19:53

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:06:23:18:52:50 by Birbal.

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Birbal
18/06/2010 21:41

Will be interesting to see how Indian batsmen go against the AAA (Akhtar, Asif, Aamer) attack... of Pakistan

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Max
19/06/2010 13:39

Pak put up a good total of 267. Chasing has been more difficult at Dambulla. Akthar bowling to Sehwag should be explosive!

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

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Birbal
19/06/2010 13:44

Memories of World Cup 2003 eh?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:06:19:13:44:55 by Birbal.

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Max
19/06/2010 15:30

Sehwag 10 runs from 32 balls...too damn slow and could be costly for India. Perhaps he should have retired after getting injured. It won't be easy to get the spinners away on this pitch, especially with the required rate climbing near 6.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

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Birbal
19/06/2010 15:36

Well with Sehwag, one or two blows and the run rate would be back to normal...but yeah... maybe he should have retired hurt...

Anyway, again the Cr@pinfo headline is very anti-India...

"Razzaq ends Sehwag's struggles" it blares, as if he were simple out of touch...no mention or sympathy for an injured Sehwag...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:06:19:15:40:46 by Birbal.

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Meet_New_Mr_India
19/06/2010 16:00

107/2 in 23 overs... someone needs to take a lead here..

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Birbal
19/06/2010 16:17

India need 133 in 21... very doable...

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Birbal
19/06/2010 16:21

Now Aamer puts down a dolly catch off Gambhir... is that the match?

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Meet_New_Mr_India
19/06/2010 18:09

Bhajji wins it for india.. great job by him.. he is the best counter-attacking batsman..

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Cooljit
19/06/2010 18:50

Great match!! Bhajji pwned that loser Akthar at the end there. Good innings be GG, Dhoni and Raina! Best part is India eliminated their arch rivals! Bye bye Pak.

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Max
19/06/2010 19:14

Quote:

Cooljit
Great match!! Bhajji pwned that loser Akthar at the end there.

Yeah that was good to watch...Akthar won't forget it in a hurry Also I missed it, but apparently there was another confrontation between Gambhir and Akmal. The needle of an Indo-Pak match was back after a long time. Maybe because the teams were meeting after nearly a year.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

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Birbal
19/06/2010 19:14

Yes, maybe they will win a consolation win against former East Pakistan...

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Cooljit
20/06/2010 01:27

Quote:

Max

Quote:

Cooljit
Great match!! Bhajji pwned that loser Akthar at the end there.

Yeah that was good to watch...Akthar won't forget it in a hurry Also I missed it, but apparently there was another confrontation between Gambhir and Akmal. The needle of an Indo-Pak match was back after a long time. Maybe because the teams were meeting after nearly a year.

Yep that confrontation was hilarious to say the least. Face to face in the heat of the moment situation.

Also Akthar's face at the end when Bhajji hit that six to win was priceless - all he could do was put 2 fingers up the uncouth rat!

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wah
21/06/2010 19:21

yes Bhajji wins the battle but Akhter's reaction was not that bad either....''chal chal jeet liya na match ab halwa baant''....

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