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NEW DELHI: With
Sri Lanka
annihilating
England on
Saturday, there
will be three
teams from the
subcontinent in
the ODI World Cup
semifinals for the
first time ever. It
would now take a
very brave man to
bet against an all-
Asian final. Every
final since 1992
has had one Asian
team. But never
have both finalists
been from South Asia.
Two of these teams, India and Sri
Lanka, were among the pre-
tournament favourites and a
billion-plus people will be hoping
they meet next Saturday in
Mumbai to decide who in the
region will get the Cup.
But don’t count Pakistan out just
yet. The 1992 champions, who
face India at Mohali on
Wednesday, were the most
exciting team in the group stage.
In the quarters, the men in green
made former champs West
Indies look like a bunch of
schoolboys. Shahid Afridi ’s men,
especially the bowlers, have
looked in ominous form. Afridi
himself has led from the front
with 21 scalps so far.
Fans, though, would be hoping
that the chinks in their rivals ’
batting as well as their sub-par
fielding would work to home
advantage. A couple of collapses
aside, India has the strongest
batting line-up in the game.
With Manmohan Singh and top
Pakistan leaders, President
Zardari and Prime Minister YR
Gilani (both or at least one), likely
to be seated in the special box,
Sachin Tendulkar would see this
as a perfect occasion to get his
100th international ton,
particularly now that Afridi has
predicted it won ’t happen.
Hopefully, fellow opener Virender
Sehwag would be fully fit. But the
loudest cheer would be reserved
for Yuvraj Singh, who ’s hit a
purple patch.
The Lankans will have to guard
against overconfidence as they
take on the Kiwis on Tuesday. On
Friday, Daniel Vettori ’s men
surprised the South Africans. But
on paper, the Lankans appear
too strong.
It’s going to be a South Asian
party alright.