Indo-Pak cricket on everybody's mind

CHANDIGARH: Distance makes a rivalry grow fiercer. Proving that would be Indian and Pakistani teams, when they clash at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on March 30 for a place in the final of the ICC World Cup.
It has been a about four years since the two teams played each other and fans have missed the rush of blood such a game brings about. And the fact that this is a high pressure and high stake knockout match, promises to make it one humungous sporting occasion.
The two teams beat defending champions Australia in their respective games of the tournament and are said to be in top form.
The high expectations from the match have Tricity youths all excited and most are willing to skip classes to follow the game, be it in hostel common rooms, friends' houses or restaurants.
''The mix of good food and cricket is always nice, especially when it is India playing Pakistan in a world cup. I will go to a good eatery with my friends to watch it,'' said Rishi Sharma, student of a private university.
''This was the clash we were waiting for since the beginning of the tournament. None of us would like to miss the action,'' said Tenzin a student of Panjab University.
Vaibhav Dahiya, another PU student, said he and
his friends were planning
to watch the action in the stadium, but as they could not manage to get tickets, they would see the match in hostel common room.
''In hostels, the environment is much like a stadium as there is a large crowd watching television and enthusiasm is also there. This is the final for us, no matter who lifts the cup,'' he added.
Harish Thakur, a research scholar, said cricket mania had gripped Tricity and it was only cricket, which was the talking point in every conversation.
Anu Pun a resident of Sector 15, said he was confident that India would win in Mohali. ''Players like Sachin, Yuvi and Raina are in great form, this time world cup will be ours,'' he adds.
''It is Sachin's dream to win the world cup and I am very sure that it will come true. I am just waiting to see the god of cricket play the semifinals,'' Anuj Bhalla, a resident of Sector 20.