Passions will bring out the best in them

For the public, this match will be very interesting; not just because of the quality of cricket the two teams are capable of exhibiting but ...

For the public, this match will be very interesting; not just because of the quality of cricket the two teams are capable of exhibiting but because of the passion involved. It’s tough to say at this stage who will win — the toss will be vital — but both are capable of beating the other.

From Pakistan’s point of view, this is a crucial match and, if they don’t win, they will have to come back home immediately. As we all know, bad performances are not looked upon kindly in either India or Pakistan. And this might make the game even more interesting. So much so that I am willing to call it the match of the 2003 World Cup.

Pakistan’s performance
so far in this World Cup

February 11: Lost to Australia by
82 runs at Johannesburg
February 16: Beat Namibia by 171 runs at Kimberley
February 22: Lost to England by 112 runs at Cape Town
February 25: Beat Holland by 97 runs at Paarl

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Going by form and past record India have the upper hand but Pakistan’s greater need to win the match might bring out the best in them.

Waqar Younis will hope that his batsmen play better. They haven’t clicked yet but that is part of the game. Even the best batsmen have off days. I remember the great British batsman Dennis Compton failing to pass 20 in a whole tour of India once.

Saeed Anwar is a great batsman, but he hasn’t been able to get back in form since coming back. We have a number of other batsmen also who are very good. But I think Shahid Afridi is the kind of player who can win a match singlehanded on a good day.

But India’s bowling, especially their fast bowling, has improved a lot since the days when I played them. They didn’t have any good fast bowlers then, but these days, they have three superb fast bowlers. And the new boy, Ashish Nehra, bowled brilliantly against England. It is the best 10-over spell I have seen in a long time.

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For Pakistan, the important thing is to choose the right team. I think Saqlain Mushtaq must play. I don’t know and I can’t comment on factions within the side but, if they do have any problems, they must iron it out immediately. We also have Wasim Akram. He is the greatest left-arm pacer I have ever seen. Hats off to him for his fantastic achievements. He can also win matches singlehandedly, as he has done so many times in his career.

If Pakistan do win, and if they manage to go to the next stage, I feel that they have it in them to go a long way in the tournament. They just need to click at the right time.

(As told to Shamya Dasgupta)