With just over three days to go till this Wednesday?s epic semi-final clash between Pakistan and India, the attentions of over a billion people are firmly focused on Mohali. This is a clash like no other. Not just on the sub-continent, but all over the world, wherever there are South Asians, the hype, the anticipation and the excitement bordering on mild hysteria is palpable. 

In an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, former Indian pace bowling all-rounder Ajit Agarkar, an experienced veteran of many Indo-Pak encounters, shared his views on the much-awaited clash. 

by Yasser Alvi

26 March 2011

Coping with pressure of the toughest cricketing encounter
The 33 year old Indian seamer, who last played a one day international (ODI) for India over three years ago in September 2007, is a veteran of 24 Indo-Pak ODI encounters and thus speaks as someone very familiar with the extreme pressure and the huge burden of expectation on the shoulders of each of the 22 players who take to the field on Wednesday. 

In his view, India?s tough quarter-final win over Australia would help them cope with the pressure of the semi-final. India were somewhat struggling when captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni got out, with the score at 187/5, chasing a target of 261. "The pressure could have affected India against Australia, yet they responded very well ? obviously, the Pakistan game offers a little more than an ordinary game but the fact is also that Australia hadn?t lost a game for the last three cups until that game with Pakistan and also they have been world champions for a while ? India responded well under pressure that day", he stated. 

In particular, Agarkar singled out Indian youngster Suresh Raina as someone whose performance in the quarter-final was quite impressive; Raina came in at 7 after Dhoni?s dismissal, and remained unbeaten with a match-winning 34 from just 28 deliveries. "Someone like Raina, who has been in and out of the team ? to go out and play like that, knowing that India, the host, could be knocked out of the tournament ? that is a big ask".

Agarkar thus feels that India?s performance against Australia should hold them in good stead come the crucial winner-takes-all encounter on Wednesday. "I think the Indian team came out well from the quarter-final, and even though Pakistan is a big game, they will cope better based on the performance against Australia", was his assessment.


More than just sport?
There is a lot of history to the Indo-Pak cricketing rivalry, which makes it amongst the greatest rivalries in all sport; unfortunately for cricket fans, the rivalry is also often enough marred by ugly under-currents of politics and other extraneous factors. 

However, the Bombay born pacer confirmed that happily, the players do not get carried away with the politics surrounding such encounters, and whilst the sporting rivalry is fierce and passionate on the field, it does not, thankfully, translate to any unpleasantness off it, at least between the two sets of players.

In Agarkar?s experience, the relationship between the Pakistani and Indian players is ?very good ? most players get along. I?ve not seen any animosity between players in my time. There is definitely some needle, an extra edge to the games between them, but that is usually caused by the people around the games as opposed to by the players?, stated Agarkar. 


Prospects for the Semi-Final
Agarkar shares the excitement of hundreds of millions of cricket fans from around the world. ?It is the biggest game that both countries play against each other in a World Cup and we don?t play enough nowadays as it is?, he stated. 

Whilst India were among the pre-tournament favourites, Pakistan were not rated as highly by many prior to the start of the tournament. However, their performances during the World Cup have been exemplary and have made observers sit up and take notice; Shahid Afridi?s men would certainly be no push-overs. ?This also makes the Semi Final more mouth-watering, as both teams have started to reach reasonable form ? you can't really ask for more, except that I wish that it was the World Cup Final, but a semi-final is good enough ? people have been waiting for this game?, continued Agarkar.

Pakistan thrashed the West Indies side by 10 wickets in their Quarter-Final, and unlike India, did not have to chase a tough total. Agarkar felt this could make a slight difference. ?Pakistan had a good Quarter Final, but not against a good team; not that any match in the World Cup is easy! India on the other hand played a very good team ? whatever team Australia put on the field is by definition a good opposition and India were able to come back after being 187/5 at one point and scoring 260 would have given them immense confidence ? its about handling the pressure at this stage in the Cup?, stated Agarkar. 

He concluded that India may have the edge over their arch-rivals for this reason. ?Every one expects India to win and its not as easy as it looks. It is a tough game ? India will start as slight favourites?.


Players to watch out for
Such high-pressure, high-octane, high-drama contests always bring out the best from certain players, and make stars out of them, whilst many a glittering reputation is shattered too. In a high-stakes, winner takes all encounter, the ones who handle the pressure best invariably succeed.

For India, the key players are their in-form batsmen. In Agarkar?s view, ?Sehwag and Sachin are key, Yuvi is in top form, possibly man of the tournament ? if you had to give someone an award for that, he would definitely be in one of the top three in the tournament. These 3 (Sehwag, Sachin, Yuvi) and then Zaheer will be crucial in the bowling. The other 3 or 4 other bowlers will also have to support Zaheer in terms of getting wickets?, he stated.

?For Pakistan ? Afridi has been in phenomenal form. If the openers get Pakistan to a decent start then the middle order is very strong and could chase very well unlike other teams ? that could cause India a problem. Umar Gul has been in terrific form as well but the important thing is the openers ? if they start off well then India will be in for a hard time? Agarkar continued.

Turning to individual battles and key contests on the field, Agarkar stated ?There are lots of battles. Not possible to say one battle as both teams have good players and players in good form. I just think India are ahead in batting as they have more than one player in good form ? for Pakistan, they need performances from some of their big batters?. 

?How India play Afridi and Gul at the top order might decide the contest. Well, it may not decide it as there are other things of course, but at least they are playing on a good wicket which is a bit slowish ? the wicket in Mohali is more on the flatter side and plays well for hundred overs?, he concluded.