Pakistan, India on collision course as quarter-finals begin

New Delhi, India

Bitter rivals India and Pakistan are on a World Cup collision course, but the two neighbours still have quarter-final hurdles to overcome as the marathon tournament enters its sixth week.

India take on defending champions Australia in Ahmedabad on Thursday while a resurgent Pakistan face an inconsistent West Indies in Dhaka to kick-start the last eight stage on on Wednesday.

Victory for both Asian giants will set-up a semi-final blockbuster in Mohali on March 30.

But Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi insisted he was not even thinking about the semi-finals.

“Our focus is on the quarter-finals, we have to win that to reach the semi-final, so we are not thinking that far. First we have a must-win match against a dangerous opponent,” Afridi told AFP.

New Zealand and South Africa meet in Dhaka on Friday before Sri Lanka and England clash in Colombo on Saturday as the World Cup, which staged its opening ceremony on February 17, comes down to the world’s eight top-ranked sides.

One-sided matches

Despite criticism of the length of the tournament and the succession of one-sided matches, International Cricket Council president Sharad Pawar claimed on Monday it is potentially the greatest ever.

“We have surely been treated to a real feast of 50-over cricket with some outstanding games,” said Pawar, as the World Cup enjoyed its first rest day.

“The standard has been impressive and there’s no doubt that 50-over cricket has a real attraction and an amazing appeal for players, spectators in the grounds and the hundreds of millions watching around the world.”

India’s 80-run win over the West Indies on Sunday handed Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men a quarter-final against Ricky Ponting’s Australians.
India have lost to Australia in nine out of 15 matches played on home soil in the last five years.

Expressive on the field

“Australia are a very strong side and very expressive on the field,” said Dhoni.

“But it’s about how we prepare. Preparation is very important and we are just thinking about that particular day and match rather than thinking about the result.”

Pakistan, topped their qualifying group with 10 points. They will be overwhelming favourites to defeat West Indies who squeezed into the quarter-finals by virtue only of a superior run-rate over Bangladesh.

Afridi said that his team’s win over Australia at the weekend, where they ended the champions’ 34-match unbeaten World Cup run, had restored his country’s image after a series of bodyblows. (AFP)