CRICKET WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL India v Pakistan:JUST OCCASIONALLY you see a civilian here but rarely in the teams' hotel. In the lobby of the Taj Chandigarh there is a surreal calm. Dozens of khaki-clad soldiers lounge around the lobby before adopting the posture of alertness when one batch of players heads off to the coach that will be the centrepiece of the multi-vehicle convoy, which transports them to the stadium.
Approaching the ground there are road blocks galore and many more soldiers mingling with 50 or more satellite trucks and reporters, who are sending words and images around the world of the fixture that has brought India and Pakistan to a standstill. Anyone involved is now accustomed to about 10 body searches a day. Even the soldiers are searched. On the rooftops, the snipers patrol.
Against this backdrop it is hard to remember that nothing more than a cricket match is about to take place, harder still for the players involved to approach this semi-final with anything other than severe apprehension.
No wonder the two captains tried to play down all the ramifications of this game. They wanted to focus on the cricket but their most meaningful message contained no words at all.
It came when Mahendra Dhoni’s press conference had come to an end and Shahid Afridi’s was about to start. Amid a surge of photographers the two captains met, smiled and shook hands, both silently recognising they were trapped by the magnitude of the situation.
There were no great revelations from Dhoni, the India captain is always politely noncommittal. He steered clear of politics – “we are not watching the television”. He acknowledged “the distraction of so many VIP guests”, but his side would have to deal with that. “All the hype and pressure does not help you perform,” he said.
Afridi was more forthcoming. “It’s a great sign for both countries that cricket brings them together. I’m a cricketer first,” he said, “then a diplomat and I’m happy with that. We are playing above our expectations, enjoying our cricket and enjoying not being the favourites.”
Afridi has this Pakistan side playing for him and he himself is playing exceptionally in his latest guise.
Afridi is now a bowler, who just might produce the odd, destructive flourish with the bat. He is the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 21 victims from his brisk wrist-spinners.
Pakistan’s bowling attack appears stronger than India’s with Umar Gul also in superb form. For this game they may recall Shoaib Akhtar for Wahab Riaz even though he is not yet 100 per cent fit. Akhtar, who retires at the end of the tournament, might have one destructive spell left in him and everyone recognises it is vital to take early wickets against India.
For if Pakistan have the edge in the field, India have the form batsmen. Sachin Tendulkar has never been so animated as at this World Cup; there are also Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, who might be considered the man of the tournament so far. It is their batsmen that make India favourites.
India have won all four of their World Cup meetings in the past. But ultimately the match will be won by the side that best holds its nerve under almost impossible duress.
Guardian Service
