Cricket Blog

This is the mother of all rivalries. Even Geoff Lawson, coach of Pakistan, has acknowledged that an Indo-Pak contest is far more intense and gripping than the Ashes. As if we did not already know that. The rivalry got a healthy boost after the Twenty20 World Cup final. A match that showcased what an India vs Pakistan encounter can truly be, no matter what the “format”.

Pakistan have already begun their tour on a winning note after defeating Delhi in their tour match. Its amazing how similar these two teams always are in their strengths and weaknesses. This time around the similarity is in the key middle-order batsmen that both sides are missing - Inzy and Dravid. Both these players have been pillars in the middle order and have helped their respective teams get out of trouble on numerous occasions. The difference here is that Inzy has retired and Dravid has only been dropped for the first 2 ODIs. He will be back depending on the performance of the team in the first two matches.

In the pace department, once again both sides are similar in terms of experience. Shoaib Akhtar will lead the pace attack for Pakistan and Zaheer will do the same for India. The inexperience in the pace department is going to be the key differentiating factor between the two sides. India have a top-heavy batting order, and if the Pakistani pace bowlers are unable to pick up early wickets then expect the scores to be 300+ if India bat first. For Pakistan, the top order is very shaky and Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Misbah ul Haq will have to perform extremely well for their side to have any chance in winning the tournament.

Virender Sehwag and Shoaib Akhtar are the comeback men for their sides. A lot will depend on how these two perform in their areas. Sehwag is replacing Dravid and he will have to perform very well in both the matches to justify his selection. I am not entirely sure how his mental frame-work is at the moment considering the unfortunate demise of his father recently. However, one thing is sure that he is sure to dedicate a solid performance to his father.

Shoaib Akhtar has been given one final warning that this tour will decide his playing future in the Pakistan cricket team. With lack of match practice and leading an inexperienced attack , Shoaib may find things difficult if Tendulkar and party decide to target him. India will want to get on top of Shoaib as early as possible.

The series is also going to be about the two young captains - MS Dhoni and Shoaib Malik. Both led their teams admirably in the Twenty20 World Cup and the following home series against Australia and Pakistan. At present both the sides are tied on the ICC ODI rankings. Who will move forward? Only time will tell.

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