Games don't come much bigger than an India v Pakistan World Cup semi-final, so it's no surprise Mohali, which will host the match on March 30, has become the most sought-after destination in India. The Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh will be there, and so will industry heavyweights, and IPL franchise owners, Mukesh Ambani and Vijay Mallya.
Not only is there a mad scramble for tickets on the black market, but all the hotels are reportedly booked within a 25-kilometre radius and there is even a shortage of parking space at the airport for those with private planes.
The stakes for the game were raised (as if a place in the World Cup final was not enough) on Friday when Singh sent a note to Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Gilani, and president Asif Zardari, inviting them both to the contest, the first such gesture since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
"I propose to be at Mohali to watch the World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan to be held on 30th March," the note said. "There is huge excitement over the match and we are all looking forward to a great game of cricket that will be a victory for sport. It gives me great pleasure to invite you to visit Mohali and join me and the millions of fans from our two countries to watch the match."
Pakistan have played India on four occasions in World Cups and have been beaten each time.
Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan team manager, has sought to downplay the hype and expectations surrounding the India-Pakistan semi-final in both countries, saying that inevitably, one of the two teams would have to lose at the end of the game. "In both the countries, there are very emotional people. Both teams cannot win and somebody has to lose," Alam told PTI in Mohali. "But whichever team loses should lose gracefully. We have to give that positive message."
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh's invitation to watch the World Cup semi-final between the cricket teams of the two countries in Mohali on March 30.
The decision, reportedly taken following a meeting late last night between Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari, has been conveyed to the Indian government.
Dr Manmohan Singh had individually written to both Gilani and Zardari to invite them for the match in Mohali.
It's for the first time since the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that Pakistan's head of the state is visiting India.
Several reports in Pakistan media said Gilani would informally meet Dr Singh during the match and a formal meeting would be held after the game.
'The Nation' newspaper quoted its sources as saying that Gilani would pay a two-day visit to India for a fresh round of "cricket diplomacy." It said that Gilani's decision to accept Singh's invitation has been conveyed to New Delhi through diplomatic channels. Till last night, there were reports that Gilani and Zardari may have deputed Farooq Naek, the Chairman of Senate or upper house of Parliament, to visit India.
This is the first time in World Cup history that India and Pakistan are going to play against each other at the semi-final level.
The last time they met was in 2003 at the knock-out stages. Every time the two teams have clashed before in World Cup, India has won.
With India and Pakistan gearing for a much-awaited clash for a slot in the 2011 World Cup final match, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has declared war on her cricketer hubby Shoaib Malik, a Pakistani national, who will be supporting the visiting team.
Expectations are high in the cricket-crazy region for a mouth-watering Indo-Pak encounter in the semi-final match on March 30 in Mohali, and the couple seem to have been caught in the battle of loyalities.
"I support India and Shoaib Malik will support Pakistan as usual! The war is on.. lol (laughing out loud)..hahah" tweeted Mirza on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
"Yes pls (please) be ready baby, it's on... lol... hahaha," replied Malik.
Mirza also cheered for Team India and said: "Well well, India VS Pakistan.. Last time (when) they played in Mohali, I watched the match live..what a semfinal on the line..wish I could be there!"
Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi also tweeted: "India Pak Semis will be a great match to watch in Mohali."
Where India always beats Pakistan
Indian tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi also congratulated the Indian cricket team on securing the semi-final berth, and wrote on Twitter: "There we go
enjoy it boys... You're half way there... We are dancing in Miami."
India and Pakistan have not played in any bilateral series since the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. The Pakistan cricketers have also not played in the Indian Premier League since its first edition in early 2008.
Pakistan, the 1992 champions, insist all the pressure will be on India in Mohali on Wednesday where the hosts' status as tournament favourites will come under scrutiny from a 30,000 crowd made up almost entirely of home support.
"If India were going to win the World Cup, this is their best chance," said Imran Khan, who captained the 1992 Pakistan title-winning team.
"I am not trying to play mind games, but the fact that they are favourites and are playing at home will means they are under more pressure.
"My advice to the Indian team is to take sleeping pills, otherwise they won't be able to sleep," added Imran in his Hindustan Times column
Adding to Wednesday's hugely-anticipated clash is the knowledge Tendulkar needs just one more century to become the first batsman to score a hundred international hundreds.
"You can say anything you want about Sachin Tendulkar, but whatever you say in praise of him will be inadequate. He is a great player," said Hafeez.
"Obviously, on that day, whoever the opponent might be, you have some strategies for him.
"Whatever the captain will tell us in terms of strategy, we will follow that," added off-spinner Hafeez, who could find himself bowling first up at Tendulkar if he is given the new ball.
"I think Sachin is at the top of his skills and I think we all should admire how he has maintained his standards throughout a long career."
However, bullish Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi -- the tournament's top wicket-taker -- was adamant Tendulkar would be kept waiting for his latest landmark achievement.
I somehow dont agree with the way poll options have been put up....
There was no need for "baap baap hota hai".
Dont you have minimum sense of understanding that there are Pakistan members too here on the forum??
And dont all of us know that Pakistan has defeated India many times??Then where was this "baap" feeling??
Cricket is a game,keep it to it.
Please do not get your stupid politics into this.
jokes:
एक राजनीतिक एक्सपर्ट बोले: अगर इंडिया जीतती है तो राहुल और सोनिया जी की कृपा है और हारती है तो सब मनमोहन सिंह की गलती है।
Not only is there a mad scramble for tickets on the black market, but all the hotels are reportedly booked within a 25-kilometre radius and there is even a shortage of parking space at the airport for those with private planes.
The stakes for the game were raised (as if a place in the World Cup final was not enough) on Friday when Singh sent a note to Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Gilani, and president Asif Zardari, inviting them both to the contest, the first such gesture since the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
"I propose to be at Mohali to watch the World Cup semi-final match between India and Pakistan to be held on 30th March," the note said. "There is huge excitement over the match and we are all looking forward to a great game of cricket that will be a victory for sport. It gives me great pleasure to invite you to visit Mohali and join me and the millions of fans from our two countries to watch the match."
Pakistan have played India on four occasions in World Cups and have been beaten each time.
Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan team manager, has sought to downplay the hype and expectations surrounding the India-Pakistan semi-final in both countries, saying that inevitably, one of the two teams would have to lose at the end of the game. "In both the countries, there are very emotional people. Both teams cannot win and somebody has to lose," Alam told PTI in Mohali. "But whichever team loses should lose gracefully. We have to give that positive message."
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh's invitation to watch the World Cup semi-final between the cricket teams of the two countries in Mohali on March 30.
The decision, reportedly taken following a meeting late last night between Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari, has been conveyed to the Indian government.
Dr Manmohan Singh had individually written to both Gilani and Zardari to invite them for the match in Mohali.
It's for the first time since the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that Pakistan's head of the state is visiting India.
Several reports in Pakistan media said Gilani would informally meet Dr Singh during the match and a formal meeting would be held after the game.
'The Nation' newspaper quoted its sources as saying that Gilani would pay a two-day visit to India for a fresh round of "cricket diplomacy." It said that Gilani's decision to accept Singh's invitation has been conveyed to New Delhi through diplomatic channels. Till last night, there were reports that Gilani and Zardari may have deputed Farooq Naek, the Chairman of Senate or upper house of Parliament, to visit India.
This is the first time in World Cup history that India and Pakistan are going to play against each other at the semi-final level.
The last time they met was in 2003 at the knock-out stages. Every time the two teams have clashed before in World Cup, India has won.
With India and Pakistan gearing for a much-awaited clash for a slot in the 2011 World Cup final match, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has declared war on her cricketer hubby Shoaib Malik, a Pakistani national, who will be supporting the visiting team.
Expectations are high in the cricket-crazy region for a mouth-watering Indo-Pak encounter in the semi-final match on March 30 in Mohali, and the couple seem to have been caught in the battle of loyalities.
"I support India and Shoaib Malik will support Pakistan as usual! The war is on.. lol (laughing out loud)..hahah" tweeted Mirza on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
"Yes pls (please) be ready baby, it's on... lol... hahaha," replied Malik.
Mirza also cheered for Team India and said: "Well well, India VS Pakistan.. Last time (when) they played in Mohali, I watched the match live..what a semfinal on the line..wish I could be there!"
Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi also tweeted: "India Pak Semis will be a great match to watch in Mohali."
Where India always beats Pakistan
Indian tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi also congratulated the Indian cricket team on securing the semi-final berth, and wrote on Twitter: "There we go
enjoy it boys... You're half way there... We are dancing in Miami."India and Pakistan have not played in any bilateral series since the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. The Pakistan cricketers have also not played in the Indian Premier League since its first edition in early 2008.
Pakistan, the 1992 champions, insist all the pressure will be on India in Mohali on Wednesday where the hosts' status as tournament favourites will come under scrutiny from a 30,000 crowd made up almost entirely of home support.
"If India were going to win the World Cup, this is their best chance," said Imran Khan, who captained the 1992 Pakistan title-winning team.
"I am not trying to play mind games, but the fact that they are favourites and are playing at home will means they are under more pressure.
"My advice to the Indian team is to take sleeping pills, otherwise they won't be able to sleep," added Imran in his Hindustan Times column
Adding to Wednesday's hugely-anticipated clash is the knowledge Tendulkar needs just one more century to become the first batsman to score a hundred international hundreds.
"You can say anything you want about Sachin Tendulkar, but whatever you say in praise of him will be inadequate. He is a great player," said Hafeez.
"Obviously, on that day, whoever the opponent might be, you have some strategies for him.
"Whatever the captain will tell us in terms of strategy, we will follow that," added off-spinner Hafeez, who could find himself bowling first up at Tendulkar if he is given the new ball.
"I think Sachin is at the top of his skills and I think we all should admire how he has maintained his standards throughout a long career."
However, bullish Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi -- the tournament's top wicket-taker -- was adamant Tendulkar would be kept waiting for his latest landmark achievement.
I somehow dont agree with the way poll options have been put up....
There was no need for "baap baap hota hai".
Dont you have minimum sense of understanding that there are Pakistan members too here on the forum??
And dont all of us know that Pakistan has defeated India many times??Then where was this "baap" feeling??
Cricket is a game,keep it to it.
Please do not get your stupid politics into this.
jokes:
एक राजनीतिक एक्सपर्ट बोले: अगर इंडिया जीतती है तो राहुल और सोनिया जी की कृपा है और हारती है तो सब मनमोहन सिंह की गलती है।
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