Adil Najam
The game – the only game – that everyone in India and Pakistan were waiting for is now set. Pakistan meets India in the Semi-Final on Wednesday, March 30, at Mohali in Chandigarh, India. Either India or Pakistan WILL make it to the Final. Which one?
We know which one we want to get to the Final, but which one do you think will? Maybe the poll has lost meaning by now, but since we have been asking this question from the beginning of the World Cup (#1, #2, #3) lets keep going. What do you think happens to Pakistan from here onwards:
The progression of ATP opinion has been interesting, but not surprising: In our very first poll (816 responses) as many as 45% had thought Pakistan would not even reach the Semi-Finals, and 26% had thought Pakistan would become World Champion; In our second poll (821 responses) with this same question, only 13% thought Pakistan would be out before the Semi-Finals, and 49% thought Pakistan would become World Champion; In our third and most recent poll (1155 responses) on the subject, 11% felt Pakistan would not even make it to the Semi-Finals and as many as 60% thought Pakistan would become World Champion.
What do you think now. India vs. Pakistan, and maybe beyond. Where does Pakistan go in this Cricket World Cup 2011 from here?
Comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “Yes pak will go ahead inshallah”
– “C mon Pakistan. Chak day phattay”
– “Ticket…visa…i want to drive to Mohali,Chandigarh….so many things before the match….have no clue how to go about it….Some wise man to guide on this..!!!????”
– “I am in Lahore and it is just 5 hrs drive.”
– “I Urge Every Member Of This Page That Pakistan Is Going 2 Face India In Semi Final Plz Change Your Display Pix And Have Pakistani Flag Or Sumthing Which Relates To Nationalism. Stand Up For The Champions Stand Up For Pakistan…Plxx”
– “did you ever have raw feeds from team Australia whose Captin call Ponting the most arrogant cricketer in the cricket World, not only him, his all team bunch of extremist.”
– “Blues can take rickshaws & tongas 2 whtever small town from Mohali. Greens are taking a flight 2 Mumbai next! Yuvraj can take a bicycle.”
– “we as one nation ready to hear national anthum in the indian soil twice in coming weeks.”
– “pakistan will show indians how to play cricket……..”
– “WITH ALLAH S HELP WE CAN WIN”
– “Vote for PAKISTAN!”
Zaid Hamid has already declared the India-Pakistan semifinal as the beginning of Ghazwa-e-Hind! Since Pakistan always loses to India in World Cups, Hamid’s choice may not be a good one, but then again he is just a low level disinformation toady on Establishment payroll.
Interesting how the numbers are so very different from the previous polls and so many are predicting a loss and so many fewer a championship victory for Pakistan. I wonder if it is that now that we know who we are playing, Pakistanis are being more realistic of chances, or is it that lost of Indians came over and started voting (which is OK by me!)
Hermoon,
You are right about the Eden Gardens test match, but the incident was because of a controversial run out and perceptions of cheating, not because Pakistan was winning. There was much self criticism after the event and almost oppressive security measures since then. Things are not what they used to be.
AW: I think you got me wrong. India Pakistan games are some of the most contested and some of the most exciting games. Yet they are treated more as the games they are, rather than war, and that is for the better. Of course, this is a semi final game and expectations are sky high, so emotions are going to be quite charged. Yes, the ashes are more important for the Aussies, but that does not negate the fact that India Australia games have emerged to be a great rivalry, at least for Indians.
Meengla: agree with you. The pressure is intense for the Indian team. Farewell world cup for Sachin, being played in India, 23 years after the last victory…. the match is going to be first a battle of nerves, with skill playing a secondary role. And the odds are against India in that dimension.
I still think India has a slightly better chance over Pakistan. Their batting lineup is just too formidable for even Pakistan’s great bowling line up. Say, 55-45% odds? Even if Tendulkar is removed early on there are players like Yuvraj (one of my top favorite batsmen around), Dhoni and others who can stay put or blast away bowling.
I see the biggest factor in this game is pressure. Much more on India than on Pakistan. Indeed, reportedly even Afridi said before the world cup that reaching the Semi would be some ‘achievement’ for Pakistan. The rest is bonus.
For India it is a different story: The home crowd is like a pressure cooker there. The media. The years of expectations building up to this game. The pressure of a ‘must win’ situation in cricket’s biggest tournament over arch-rival Pakistan…
So, if Pakistan loses, the team will still be hailed as heroes and garlanded upon arrival back home in Pakistan. The team has already exceeded expectations. But if India loses–and I will not be too surprised that the spectators go out of hand–the players will get the wrath of their fellow countrymen.
Anyway, win or lose–I want Pakistan to win–let’s hope this is a tight contest. The Pakistan-WI contest was too easy. Boring. We want a ‘match’ in a cricket match!