DHAKA, January 10: Much after the bustling bazaar across the National Stadium here went to sleep, a lean representative from the local black market was on the prowl with a bunch of tickets for the second match of this Independence Cup. "India, Pakistan, bhai," was his punchline.And, going by the clutch of notes on his hand, the stakes for a window seat to the mega clash seems to have shot up. Especially, after the relishing appetiser today when the home team almost pulled off a big one against India.Coming to ground realities, the toss will also hold much significance from a purely cricketing point of view. The weathermen here hint at another day of cricket under floodlights. But even if it happens otherwise the chilly conditions will ensure another rich day for Javagal Srinath's tribe. Especially, those lucky ones who get to bowl first.In the event, Debashish Mohanty and today's five-wicket hero from Bangalore should figure prominently in the India gameplan. For all you know, they may even bring in third seamer Harvinder Singh for Hrishikesh Kanitkar.But Pakistani batsmen are never known to be inhibited by the conditions or the rival bowlers. On the contrary, they are seen to be driven more by a kind of fierce inner motivation, which can be devastating as Shahid Afridi would demonstrate if luck stands by him. And if that happens tomorrow, the focus will shift to the Indian batsmen and how they measure up to the speed of Aaqib Javed and the guiles of Saqlain Mushtaq.Saurav Ganguly to open, Mohammed Azharuddin at No.3 and Sachin Tendulkar to follow looks comfortably warm on paper. But recent history, especially against Pakistan, points to a colder reality. But for once even the cricket merchants would be wishing for India to start winning now, if only to keep consumers in one of the biggest telecast markets in the world from reaching for their remote controls.
