'Pakistan-India clash will be most watched in cricket history'
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The much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash at the 2015 World Cup will be the most watched match in cricket history, a World Cup official says.
The South Asian giants take on each other on February 15 in Adelaide, Australia, and more than a billion people are expected to tune in. The audience will eclipse the 988 million who watched the two nations in their 2011 World Cup semi-final.
“It will be unlike any cricket match ever seen in Australia,” a World Cup official told The Australian.
Pakistan, led by veteran Misbah-ul-Haq, will be looking to break their World Cup jinx against India who have won all five encounters between the two sides at the showpiece event. They first met at the 1992 tournament that was also co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
Defending champions India, led by MS Dhoni who has retired from Tests and is likely to call it quits from the ODI side as well, will be looking to repeat their success in 2011 where they lifted the trophy at home.
Misbah appeared quite confident of the national team’s prospects despite the loss of key spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez over illegal actions.
“We have all seen the India Tests and it gives us a good picture for how the pitches would be in Australia.”
“There is extra pace and bounce on Australian pitches but it is the trait of good professional cricketers to manage on different conditions.Most of the players are already aware of the conditions in Australia and New Zealand.”
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On DawnNews
Comments (95) Closed
Jan 13, 2015 05:11pm
One billion people will be disappointed.
Its going to be a totally one sided match.
Current pak team is no match for current India team.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:21pm
This is the battle between a non-decision making captain(Misbah) and well decision making captain (Dohni).
Despite of 5 world cup matches Pakistan always have an edge on overall statistics over India. (70-52). Hopefully we will change the history of World Cup this year. Insha Allah.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:23pm
India will win
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Jan 13, 2015 05:24pm
If only ICC had not turned into WWF, cricket was so much fun before match-fixing and going totally commercial. The good old days!!
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Jan 13, 2015 05:25pm
It will be great if Pakistan just beats India in world cup. We always thrashed them why not at world cup? Just don't take emotions although 2011 semi Final was fixed game. ..
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Jan 13, 2015 05:25pm
Amazing that we can provide so much entertainment. Although chances are we will be whipped by India.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:28pm
It is nice to see this fight with cricket ball & bats rather than canon balls &bullets .Good Luck , let the best ( lucky ) team win
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Jan 13, 2015 05:28pm
@Lyra Pakistan doesn't has a one billion population .
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Jan 13, 2015 05:28pm
on papers, India is far much capable side then Pakistan. But miracles do happen
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Jan 13, 2015 05:29pm
@Lyra Going by what you are saying then Pakistan has already won. "One billion people will be disappointed"
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Jan 13, 2015 05:30pm
It should be like any other match. No unnecessary hype and all... The results should be taken in sportsmanship spirit. Don't pelt stones on your cricketers or their families...
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Jan 13, 2015 05:30pm
@Lyra Don't worry and watch how PAK recreate a history of 1992 world cup.Australia is lucky for us GREEN GRASS GREEN UNIFORM always a best combination.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:32pm
Let's hope Pakistan don't lose by a big margin.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:32pm
I like Pakistani bowlers - fast bowlers !! Most of the spinners are chuckers. I will watch and hope the best team wins... I hope nobody throws the match away because of the money !!!!
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Jan 13, 2015 05:33pm
Lets hope Pakistan will win this time.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:34pm
India will win because they have conspired to keep Ajmal out of the world cup. Srinivasan is controlling Cricket Australia. There guys, I have said it. Now lets not fight.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:36pm
Security forces on both sides will be on high alert as well on this day especially India who most probably will win.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:36pm
Every successive encounter would be the most watched in history because the population of the two countries is rising.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:46pm
oh for god sake it is just a game...Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.please just make it as a game and nothing else....
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Jan 13, 2015 05:49pm
Unnecessary hype being created. Were India not defeated by Pakistan last time two teams met?
Only expectation is that history does not repeat itself. In any case, we support our team Pakistan.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:53pm
I want the match to get close call so we all India/Pakistan can enjoy, it is game play and enjoy regardless who win who loose.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:54pm
I am appalled that your website has not bothered to cover the emphatic win by Pakistani women cricket team against Sri Lankan women team by seven wickets...
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Jan 13, 2015 05:56pm
@Azhar Hussain : Something to do with reading between the lines though Lyra's prediction isn't all that tough. Lyra was commenting that one billion Indians would be disappointed with a one aided contest and conquest for India. As for myself , I am keeping my fingers crossed as Pak can throw surprises early on in the series.
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Jan 13, 2015 05:57pm
who will will the match for us (Pak), Current team have no such capabilities. Sorry to say!!!
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Jan 13, 2015 06:02pm
If anybody is angry about unnecessary hype is being created,please take notice that Dawn has published statement from unknown ICC official.
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Jan 13, 2015 06:11pm
@Azhar Hussain 1 Billion people would be disappointed becuase people are expecting good game not one-sided. This Pak team is not as good as previous teams so I am already disappointed :(
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Jan 13, 2015 06:14pm
@Rehman ....If you can't win, call it fixed!!!
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Jan 13, 2015 06:18pm
@A Pakistani Inshaallah
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Jan 13, 2015 06:21pm
Mother of all matches. IMO Pakistan has advantage with better bowling attack but India has Kohli
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Jan 13, 2015 06:33pm
Ohhh chak dey phatey...
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Jan 13, 2015 06:34pm
I hope this time its not a sold our booked match like in last worldcup where they dropped tendulkar like 30 times
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Jan 13, 2015 06:40pm
@Lyra only thing that makes pak an dangerous team is that they are unpredictable. who had thought they would win a test series against Australia. NOTE: India could not do it
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Jan 13, 2015 06:48pm
I am sure it would be the most watched match. And I can gurantee....the live updates on dawn would be the most commented. While our teams fight it out on the ground.....lets create a history of 'MOST COMMENTS ON A NEWS WEB SITE' by flooding dawn. And I say that because dawn is the only news paper where comments are welcomed open heartedly and its journalism at its best.
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Jan 13, 2015 06:50pm
@Irfan
To be honest ,if there are that many people in the country,half of them never ever heard of the steam building up for this match.
Most of them could not care less .
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Jan 13, 2015 06:52pm
Pakistan has a history of success in Australia... just ask Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. India needs to worry about quite a few things :)
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Jan 13, 2015 06:58pm
If it is not fixed ,, which is quite difficult , then people will watch a good cricket with Pakistan winning ultimately.
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Jan 13, 2015 07:00pm
Misbah need to come up with a strategy!
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Jan 13, 2015 07:14pm
no use arguing with Pakistani's but we Indian's will enjoy the cricket.
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Jan 13, 2015 07:46pm
@N- USA Winning and losing is part of the game. I call it fixed because there is evidence of match-fixing, not one, numerous of cases, you cannot really tell the difference now as to which game is fixed and which isn't. Kindly do not take my comment here as an excuse for any country I support for their poor performance. It's a fact that cricket has gone totally commercial, it is another fact that match-fixing does happen
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Jan 13, 2015 07:50pm
My heart says Pakistan but head says India
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Jan 13, 2015 07:56pm
India will be thrashed.
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Jan 13, 2015 07:58pm
Hope Pakistan wins the encounter
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Jan 13, 2015 08:03pm
@Gaurav Arya do not forget that a very capable pakistani is joining the ICC as head, pretty soon.
so watch out mate. he is no friend of the Indian cricket board
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Jan 13, 2015 08:07pm
Hoping for a nail biter in which India wins on the last ball - a la 2007 World T20 Cup.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:09pm
It will be battle between world class bowling Vs World class batting.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:21pm
waiting for the clash of the titans but yeah totally agree with the previous commentors.... it seems that indians have sent their best to fight our Tigers anyways.... Jeetega BHai Jeetega Pakistan Jeetega... :-)
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Jan 13, 2015 08:23pm
India will crush Pakistan, it's really not even worth watching. Say this as a PK supporter.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:23pm
If we win, we will celebrate it in a huge way . So no worries, whatever the result we will not be disapponted
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Jan 13, 2015 08:23pm
@A C Rao India will win, just relax. See now that's true friendship.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:25pm
@raja hindustani Yes, unfortunately both the world class batting and bowling are on the Indian side. Pakistan is on same level as Bangladesh.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:33pm
Misbah said "Most of the players are already aware of the conditions in Australia and New Zealand." Please tell me besides Misbah, Younis, Umer Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad (only in NZ not Australia) has played in down under. More than half of the team is going there for the first time. Besides Pakistan team lost to both countries in ODsI when they played in middle east that has almost same conditions as the subcontinent.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:34pm
@A Pakistani The moral of the team players depends on the character of the captain.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:35pm
@Ahmed : may be , it was for india,
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Jan 13, 2015 08:44pm
whatever happens just enjoy the thrilling and interesting match. good luck to both
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Jan 13, 2015 08:49pm
This first match against India Pakistan will win...Inshahallah,latter matches will be very challenging ,but you never know Pakistan cricket has surprised in difficult conditions.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:56pm
This game of cricket is now a game of bookies.Corrupt people in different boards have spoiled this beautiful game. Now just watch batting, bowling, fielding without increasing your heart beats; simple as that. Money decides the result of the match.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:56pm
@taimur you always thrashed us in Sharjah because spectators were yours and umpire was yours all decisions were in your favor. No third eye was there previously but check the matches from 2005 onwards and than tally. You have won several matches by cheating but not now. There are several eyes to catch you cheating.
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Jan 13, 2015 08:57pm
@Rehman I`m sure you meant WWE because WWF now only means "World Wide Fund for Nature"
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Jan 13, 2015 09:02pm
Our team is pretty weak this year. Sadly, I see India winning this easy.
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Jan 13, 2015 09:28pm
insha allah pak win wc
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Jan 13, 2015 09:33pm
Pakistan best team but pakistan not beating world cup for India
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Jan 14, 2015 12:03am
Pakistan!
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Jan 14, 2015 12:38am
@raja hindustani What world class bowling??????
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Jan 14, 2015 12:41am
@Lyra it might be 1.2 billion now. Check your stats!
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Jan 14, 2015 12:42am
@Ahmed @lyra Pakistan doesn't has a one billion population .
Not needed, 15 is enough!
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Jan 14, 2015 01:03am
@Rehan Indian bowling is not that good
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Jan 14, 2015 01:32am
What a serious joke? Never say never again.
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Jan 14, 2015 02:30am
Be optimistic people, have hope. Everyday isn't Sunday!!!
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Jan 14, 2015 02:52am
It would be a miracle if pak team made 200 score. Our team has a weak heart with no confidence at all and they play under pressure, have you ever read their faces specially hafeez.
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Jan 14, 2015 03:33am
Going by my gut feeling... Pakistan will win. They don't perform when they rely on superstars like ajmal. Though technically India is better but this will be more a war of nerves and can be any ones game! Just my half cent!!
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Jan 14, 2015 04:01am
@kayenn Pakistan has lost all 5 world cup matches to india, why when they otherwise have a stat of 70-52. Money dictates the WC matches and Corrupts players no where more than in subcontinent.
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Jan 14, 2015 04:44am
I really don't give a damn as to who wins this game. I care about the knock out stage matches. Let India win this, and we take the final, a la 1992.
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Jan 14, 2015 05:10am
India will win easily. India have a HUGE psychological edge on Pakistan in world cups. They even beat Pakistan when Pakistan fielded their best sides in the world cup. This should be a walk in the park for them.
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Jan 14, 2015 05:11am
I am Pakistani but I always was India win in cricket against Pak and in Hockey I always pray Pak win against India
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Jan 14, 2015 05:27am
Pak WC team will be the OLDEST in the competition.
Indian WC team will be one of the youngest.
At best, it will be interesting.
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Jan 14, 2015 05:31am
It depends which Pakistan side turns up.
As an Indian fan, it's a coin toss really.
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Jan 14, 2015 05:50am
Virat Kohli alone is capable of beating paki side. Let it be only Virat vs whole of Pakistan...
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Jan 14, 2015 06:15am
Pakistan will be victorious, Insha'Allah.
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Jan 14, 2015 06:20am
This match will get fixed in advance.
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Jan 14, 2015 07:26am
Although I am Indian, I have a feeling Pakistan will do very well this time.
Reasons: 1) Good bowling, 2) no unreasonable expectation from Pakistani fans and 3) presence
off few experienced hands.
Not having Ajaml is probably a plus as his replacements are equally capable and little known to opponents.
On that note, I want Akshar Patel in the Indian team.
I also know that Pakistani team is well-known for batting collapse.
Anyway, let the game begin, and no mutual insults please!
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Jan 14, 2015 07:32am
@Lyra Good luck for u, but at the end who will paly good they ll win the match and will not depend on ur desire
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Jan 14, 2015 08:21am
@N- USA it was fixed as the Indian bookies revealed.
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Jan 14, 2015 08:24am
@Arnab Dey since 2005 India is controlling ICC And that is why India is on top. India has over 1 billion people and cricket world cannot lose them. It's all about money my friend
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Jan 14, 2015 08:47am
@A C Rao hope u can teach them. They are not much but in power and the others mostly don't think much just follow.
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Jan 14, 2015 09:33am
@Arnab Dey U r wrong friend.i m watching cricket since 1987.pakistan played about 22 Matches in india out of which Pak won 15 And India have only won 7.
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Jan 14, 2015 10:41am
Pak players are feared before match as usual before matches of world cup. Because of pak peoples negative thinking about losing to india. If india lose indian people dont scold players because this is just sports. And move forward.but pak public think its a war ! So pak will lose the match.INDIA WILL WIN .
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Jan 14, 2015 10:48am
India has played series with Australia and continuously scored 400+ against Australia . As Pakistan bowling is poorer then Australian so we can say that India will easly make 270+ against Pakistan and can easily win by 60 or 70 runs
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Jan 14, 2015 11:06am
@taimur In pakistan being a crook is lesser crime then a looser. So, if the match was fixed by Pakistan why a lot of players are still playing in your national team including your current and 2011 captain.
Your this statement only shows the jealously and "sore grapes approach" nothing else. Don't be a sore loser and cry baby.
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Jan 14, 2015 01:04pm
Pakistan-India matches are always a good entertainment. Both teams are under pressure to perform and games are always close. In earlier WCs Pakistan have played well against India but have succumbed to pressure at key moments in the game resulting in losses. If only Pakistan can somehow get the mental side of things right then I believe Pakistan will win the match. While I say that, I also believe India has a very decent side and with Virat Kholi in the mix they have a very strong batting side (as always) that can definitely challenge Pakistan.
Hoping for an interesting match but I know Pakistan will win! :)
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Jan 14, 2015 01:20pm
OverHypped!! Match ...really no matter who wins..they both will qualify for quarters.it
.just both have to win other matches with minions
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Jan 14, 2015 02:15pm
it's game and should take it as a game let's best team in that day win
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Jan 14, 2015 05:22pm
I want Pakistan to win the World Cup. Don't care if they lose to India. Guys look at the big picture.
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Jan 14, 2015 09:10pm
@adnan Adnan it doesnt matter India controls World Cricket!!!!
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Jan 15, 2015 02:58am
Come on guys who are hoping that Pakistan will win, if Pakistan cannot beat Australia [minus Clark] and B team Newzeland in UAE, how can they beat any team in Australia and NewZeland. On the other hand India has been playing in Australia and their eyes are set on those bouncy pitches. India bowling may be weak but Pakistan batting is the worst, and remember that India has the best batting in the world for ODI matches.
It will be a totally one sided match and the only hope for Pqakistan is if Shahid Afridi gets going with overs to play.
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Jan 16, 2015 01:59pm
..."The audience will eclipse the 988 million who watched the two nations in their 2011 World Cup semi-final..."
It was in their 2011 World Cup quarter Final
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