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Prediction
India will expect a big score from any of Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir, Singh, Dhoni or Kohli. Even Pathan can be expected to deliver an innings reminiscent of his match-winning 123 off 96 balls against New Zealand in December.
India hold the mental edge heading into their fifth World Cup match against their sub-continent neighbours, having won all four previous clashes.
But Pakistan have beaten India the two times these countries met on this ground in the ODI format – in 1999 and 2007 – with the most recent fixture seeing Pakistan chase down India’s total of 321 to win with one ball to spare.
Pakistan’s bowlers have a mammoth task before them, but Gul, Riaz, Razzaq and Afridi have the potential to restrict the power hitting in the Indian top-order.
Plenty of runs, plenty of noise, plenty of drama. India to march on.
Key Men
Virender Sehwag – A proven big-stage performer, Sehwag can not only score runs but belt the cover off the ball to make batting easier for the stars to come in behind him. Sehwag averages 40-plus in World Cup matches with a strike rate of 104.95 – an ominous statistic for the Pakistan strike bowlers.
Shahid Afridi - Batsman, bowler, captain, talisman. There is very little that Afridi does not do in the Pakistan shirt and his team will be depending on him to produce the goods once more. He has taken 21 wickets (@10.71) and will need to add to this tally to restrict a strong Indian batting line-up.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final: India v Pakistan
Venue: Mohali Date: Wednesday, 30 March (1000 BST)
Coverage: Highlights on BBC Two (see listings), Red Button & online at 2200 GMT (UK only); live Test Match Special commentary (BBC 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW and online); text commentary online and mobiles; live on Sky Sports
Wednesday's titanic semi-final between India and Pakistan could hinge on the contest between two great entertainers who have reinvented themselves as ruthlessly efficient performers at this World Cup.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi and India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh have often been derided as "Hollywood" cricketers, capable of turning on the style when conditions suit them, but just as likely to go missing when their teams need them most.
However, by curbing some of their natural instincts and performing with a new maturity, the duo have taken their games to new heights.
SHAHID AFRIDI
Shahid 'Boom Boom' Afridi earned his nickname for smashing the ball out of the ground with a ferocity and regularity the game had rarely seen.
These days the big scores are few and far between, but the Pakistan captain's capacity to make an explosive impact on games make his moniker as fitting as ever.
Now it is the show-stopping quality of Afridi's bowling that is clearing the bars.
Highlights - Pakistan power past West Indies
In seven matches at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, he has taken 21 wickets at a staggering average of 10.71.
Having only taken four or more wickets on five occasions 312 one-day internationals, he has achieved the feat four times in seven matches at the tournament.
His ability to intersperse conventional leg-spinners with googlies, top-spinners and quicker deliveries on the slow, low, wickets of the subcontinent have rendered him nigh-on unplayable and been the single biggest factor in Pakistan's run to the semi-finals.
Afridi's combination with paceman Umar Gul, who has 14 wickets, has helped the side overcome the shortcomings of an inconsistent batting line-up to beat Sri Lanka, Australia and the West Indies en route to the last four.
With his constant flow of wickets, Afridi has largely led by example, but his leadership has also caught the eye for the way he has galvanised a notoriously fractious squad and imbued them with more energy and efficiency in the field.
"Everybody is standing behind him at the World Cup," said Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq.
"I think there are always differences in opinion but we always talk to the captain about what he thinks. He's really good at that.
Wahab Riaz dismissed Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh off successive balls to place India at 141/4 in 25.3 overs in their World Cup semifinal clash at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Wednesday.
Scorecard | Match in Pics | In Pics: Indian fans in Mohali
Special Coverage: India Pakistan Semi Final
Riaz first had Virat caught by Umar Akmal at backward point and on the next delivery, clean bowled the in-from Yuvraj with a superb reverse swinging yorker.
Pakistani fielders dropped Sachin Tendulkar twice and he made them pay by hitting his 95th ODI half-century.
Tendulkar was first dropped by Misbah-ul-Haq at mid-wicket when he was on 27 and a few overs later Younis Khan dropped a simple catch at mid-off when Tendulkar was at 45. The unlucky bowler at both times was Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi.
India lost their second wicket when Mohammad Hafeez had Gautam Gambhir stumped by Kamran Akmal.
Sachin Tendulkar and Gambhir brought up the Indian 100 in the 16th over.
Tendulkar took India to 73/1 in 10 overs after the dismissal of Virender Sehwag.
Tendulkar survived two close calls in Saeed Ajmal's second over. On the fourth delivery, the ball hit Tendulkar on the pads, the Pakistani players appealed and umpire Ian Gould raised his finger. Tendulkar opted for the review and the replays showed that the ball was going down the leg side. The decision was overturned.
On the next delivery, Tendulkar missed the doosra while playing a front foot shot and Kamran Akmal took off the bails in a flash. Square leg umpire Simon Taufel went for the third umpire and the replays showed that Tendulkar had brought his right foot down in the crease just in time.
Wahab Riaz trapped Sehwag plumb in front of the wicket after India got off to a fiery start.
Sehwag hit 9 fours in his 25-ball 38 and his onslaught started when he hit five fours off Umar Gul's second over as India got off to a flying start.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat as India made one change to the side that beat Australia in the quarterfinals, bringing in pacer Ashish Nehra in place of spinner R Ashwin.
Pakistan have made no change to the team that beat the West Indies in the quarterfinals, deciding against including mercurial pacer Shoaib Akhtar despite widespread speculation before the match.
Teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Ashish Nehra
Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (c), Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal+, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal.
Umpires: Simon Taufel and Ian Gould (both on-field), Billy Bowden (third umpire), Rod Tucker (fourth umpire). Ranjan Madugalle (match referee).
Special prayers were offered and rituals performed in the hometown of Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday morning, ahead of the India-Pakistan clash in the World Cup semifinal.
"Special prayers were performed in the morning for India's victory. Goddess Durga has blessed Dhoni and we believe that India will win the World Cup under his captainship," said Manoj Panda, priest of Deori temple in Tamar near Ranchi.
Dhoni's fans also went to Deori temple, which the cricketer often visits.
"We arrived here for the special prayers. India will reach the final by defeating Pakistan," said Sandeep, a fan of Dhoni.
Pujas were also performed in other temples of Jharkhand for the Indian team's success.
"It's a great opportunity and a great honour to be hosting such a high-profile match, in which Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan besides other dignitaries will be present," MP Pandove, also BCCI treasurer, said.
He said there was always pressure in hosting such a mega match, but added they were happy to play host to the two neighbouring countries.
On the VVIPs coming here, Pandove said that "UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, ICC president and Union Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Bhat among others, are watching the match."
Pandove said that Bangladesh Cricket Board secretary Mehbubullah Anam, Cricket Sri Lanka secretary Nishant Ranatunga and several former cricketers will be present. Chairman of Indian Selection Committee Kris Shrikkanth reached on Tuesday.
Pandove advised the fans coming to watch the match to reach the stadium well in time and be seated by 12 pm in view of the movement of the top dignitaries.
It is finally upon us. The day a billion men, women and children have dreamt of, speculated over, and obsessed about. It is a day, though, that does not come without a price. This unprecedented monomania is expected to result in record levels of sickness as Indians and Pakistanis , sleep deprived from a week of daydreaming , call into work to announce anything from a sudden attack of asthma to, if the comments section of the online Times of India is anything to go by, a brief bout of bubonic plague. ( Click here for full coverage of India- Pakistan World Cup semifinal )
Whether there will be anyone on the other end of the phone to take their call remains in serious doubt. Yes, the entire Indian subcontinent will be closed for business today as India take on Pakistan in the second semi-final of the World Cup .
Cellphones the world over will finally fall silent as call centres across the land are emptied of salesmen. It may not be an official national holiday but it will be a de facto day of anxious "leisure" for everyone from Kanyakumari in the South to Sost in Northern Pakistan. Well, I say everyone. If the media is to be believed there is one group of selfless individuals who, nobly and altruistically, will use the unique opportunity provided by a cricket match to solve the bitter disputes that have bedeviled Indo-Pak relations for 54 years. Apparently delegations from the Home Offices of both countries have been working round the clock in the days leading up to the match to thrash out a series of agreements that Prime Ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Manmohan Singh can rubber stamp after a gentle, civilized day at the cricket.
There is even talk of a limited prisoner exchange. But can it really be that half acentury of rivalry is about to be replaced so easily by a fraternal accord that will usher in a bright new dawn? Let us examine the entrenched positions of both sides. In the Green corner sits Gilani. For the best part of 30 years now his men have stuck to a rigid and unshakable faith in the power of reverse swing bowling, backed up by explosive, ludicrously gifted, but entirely unpredictable batsmen . Frequently Pathans from the unruly mountain districts of Pakistan, they have terrorized players around the world with their unfathomable methods and weapons of rapid wicket taking ability, even on the slow, low surfaces of India.
Suspecting that they were falling behind in this arms race to control the middle overs of a One Day International, the Indians began developing their own retaliatory response at the turn of the century in the shape of Zaheer Khan. He is now fully tested and at the height of his destructive powers. But he sits alone within the Indian arsenal as sadly later models, such as the Sreesanth, the Munaf Patel and most especially the Ashish Nehra have been fitted with faulty stump tracking radar. It's , therefore, hard to see the Indians agreeing to lay down their Zaheer Khan without demanding the decommissioning of both Umar Gul and Wahab Riaz. Even then hardliners in Singh's cabinet are unlikely to rest until the currently mothballed Shoaib Akhtar is included in a fully comprehensive disarmament proposal.
Fortunately both PMs can find common ground on the use of spinners with each side sporting models that claim to be 31 years old. Suspicions remain in India that Shaheed Afridi was developed a good four years before his off spinning counterpart Harbhajan Singh, and that he has also been fitted with vastly improved wrists since his last outing in a World Cup, but hopes remain high that this won't constitute an irreconcilable stumbling block to negotiations, in part because India have finally unveiled their own spin bowling upgrade in the shape of Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has recently replaced Piyush Chawla who has been sent back to the manufacturer to fix what is hoped to be only a temporary malfunction whereby every ball he bowls lacks guile or the slightest threat.
As the excitement in two countries reached fever pitch and the tension rose to near-paralysing levels, Team India turned for motivation to the man who has never seen defeat in a World Cup game against Pakistan for close to two decades now.
On the eve of the semifinal in Mohali, India’s mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton took the back seat, and the task of delivering the team talk fell on Sachin Tendulkar.
The veteran of six World Cups — during which India have got the better of Pakistan in four games — probably sensed it would be counterproductive to dwell for too long on the obvious significance of the match ahead.
Sources close to the team said Tendulkar’s talk was short but very effective. He essentially asked the boys to be calm and to stick to their natural game.
“He went back to the 2003 group game at Centurion. He spoke about how he had refused to fall into the short ball trap that the Pakistani quicks Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar had laid for him, and instead played his natural game,” said a source. Tendulkar smashed 98 off 75 balls as India chased down Pakistan’s 273 with six wickets and over four overs to spare.
Several Bollywood personalities including those who have headed to Mohali to witness the high-octane Indo-Pak clash today, are super-excited about this big game and have wished Team India success. ( Click here for full coverage of India Pakistan semifinal )
Those who will be at the stadium to see this crucial contest include actors Aamir Khan, Suniel Shetty, Rahul Bose, Dino Morea, filmmaker Kunal Kohli and Siddharth Mallya among others.
"Really excited to go to Mohali for the match. This game is going to be a wicked one. All the Best to Boyz in Blue," actress Preity Zinta said on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"Just landed in Mohali...I have never seen so many aircrafts waiting to land on one small airstrip..INDIA all the wayyyyyyy!!!," actor Vivek Oberoi said.
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted, "Off to Mohali to support Team India. My hearty wishes for Men in Blue. We will win today. Vande Matram."
Arpita Khan, sister of superstar Salman Khan said, "In Mohali just left for the ground...so excited. Come on India come on Yuvi. India will win. Yuvi all the way."
Actor Riteish Deshmukh says, INDIA-PAK is going to be a tough match. "Hope its a cracker of a match."
Top B-town celebrities including megastar Amitabh Bachchan, son Abhishek, Salman Khan, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta and others, have however, chosen to get glued to their TV sets to enjoy this historic 2011 World Cup game.
Amitabh said, "All asking, if I am going to Mohali for the match .. no I am not.. I am working... and neither is Abhishek going. Team relaxed rahe, bas yahi dua hai."
Actress Priyanka Chopra, says, "Go Indiiiiaaaa. On the sets of 'Agneepath'...shooting till late evening. Gonna be glued to TV every chance I get. Full excitement....a billion prayers and wishes. Just do what you do best. Make us proud! Jai Hind."
Actor Arshad Warsi says, "unfortunately I will miss the match as I will be in air when the match is on. My gut feel is that India is winning.
Shilpa Shetty, who is in Dubai, says, she can't wait for the match. "Butterflies in my stomach, wonder what players must go through... shudder!"
"Office working but I am certain the TV will be on with intermittent yelling and cheering. Fun," Dia Mirza said.
Besides, several sports personalities too are cheering for Team India.
Australian bowler Shane Warne said, "Big game today India vs Pakistan. Tough to choose a winner. Leaning towards whoever bats first. India to win in a thriller - just !!!!."
While all rounder Yuvraj Singh posted a tweet saying, "All dear ones in the stadium.. Pl inspire us by singing our national anthem loudly.. Jai Hind."
Formula One motor racing driver from India, Narain Karthikeyan, said, "Don't stress too much guys, its just another match. U WILL ROCK!!! GO TEAM INDIA!!!."
Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, who married Pak cricketer Shoaib Malik, said, "Good luck Team India...more than a billion wishes are with you..give it your all."
If it's the talk of the town, could social networking sites be far behind? Celebrities and commoners alike posted last minute online messages of excitement, tension and good luck on the India-Pakistan semifinal in Mohali Wednesday. ( Click here for full coverage of India Pakistan semifinal )
An excited Sania Mirza, Indian tennis player, tweeted early Wednesday: "Okkkk...here we gooo...good luck Team India..more than a billion wishes are with you...give it ur all..(sic)".
Film personality Pritish Nandy similarly tweeted: "Pakistan's bowlers vs India's batsmen: that's the real battle today".
Actor Rahul Bose tweeted that he was on his way to Mohali to watch the match. Kunal Kapoor, another Bollywood actor, tweeted that the tension was "unbearable".
The hype over the match reached a crescendo Wednesday as a lot of cricket buffs took leave from work to watch the match. They did not forget to post their online updates, of course.
Abhinav Singh, an advertising professional, said: "This is one match I just couldn't have missed. So I applied for casual leave and thankfully my boss was understanding enough to grant me the day off! I have called over a few friends to my place so that we can watch the match together and root for India."
Sara Mishra, a student, posted on Facebook: "The big day is here! Good luck Team India! I am sure you will bowl them over".
Author Chetan Bhagat also rooted for the home team on Twitter, saying: "Alright men in blue, d-day today! Cream pak, so they finally realise why partition was a bad idea (sic)."
To all the maddening hype around, Bhagat said: "I know the match is getting overhyped, but it's ok. We get few such moments of national unity. We are one today."
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is in Mohali to watch the high profile cricket match between India and Pakistan, which is going to be played here.
Reports say that in order to host his cricketparty Aamir has cut short his shooting time for Reema Kagti’s upcoming film.
A source stated “Aamir has always been a huge cricket fan and nothing is bigger than an India vs Pakistan match. Amir wanted to seethe match, so he spoke to Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar and asked them to reschedule the shoot for a day.”
The source claims, “In fact he also has taken a day off for the finals on the 2nd. Aamir has a close set of friends and he has invited them to his house.”
“The guest list includes Amin Haji, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Raju Hirani and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Imran Khan will obviously be watching the crucial match at his Mammu jaan’s house,” the sourceadded.
Shah Rukh Khan cancels shoot for match- In the mean time, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan too, has cancelled all his shoots and appointments in order to watchthe match at his residence Mannat along with his close friends.
His guest list includes Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay and wife Maheep Kapoor, Chunky and Bhavna Pandey.
ONE OF the biggest days in the history of Cricket has now arrived. The Godfather of all cricket matches is about to be played as the India vs Pakistan semi final takes place in Mohali at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday, March 30 from 2:00 pm onwards.
Millions of cricket-crazy fans from across the globe have already started cheering for their heroes to do well in the super match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. They are praying for the victory of their favourite team at temples, mosques, gurudwaras, and churches.
The winner of the India vs Pakistan second semi final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will play against Sri Lanka on Saturday, April 2, at India's finance capital Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. In the first semi final match of the Cricket World Cup 2011 on Tuesday, March 29, Sri Lanka won by five wickets at R. Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, and reached its second successive final of the Cricket World Cup.
Prior to the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan semi final match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, last night, the weather in Mohali raised the heart beats of Indian and Pakistani cricket fans. Mohali witnessed some heavy rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday.
According to the Mohali weather report, on Wednesday, March 30, in the afternoon the sky will mostly be sunny, and Mohali temperature will be around 41°C, however, there will be a chance of little rain by the evening.
The two captains, MS Dhoni and Shahid Afridi, will come to the middle of Punjab Cricket Association Stadium for the important toss of the second semi final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at 2:00 PM and live action for the battle for final will start from 2:30 PM IST
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram suggested Shahid Afridi and his bowlers to get rid of in-form India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh as early as possible during their ICC World Cup 2011 semi-final in Mohali on Wednesday if they hope to reach the tournament final in Mumbai on 2 April.
“Shahid Afridi and team will have to bowl intelligently to him (Yuvraj),” said the legendary pacer while talking to a cricket website. “They will have to stop his run-flow and that's the only way I think Yuvraj can be stopped.”
Akram said that the stylish Punjab batsman has shown great attitude in the World Cup so far and is eager to play long innings. He further added that Yuvraj has converted good starts to fifties and a century which he felt could be disastrous for Pakistan if they did not dismiss him early.
The 29-year-old Chandigarh player has so far earned four Man of the Match awards and has compiled a tally of 341 runs at a astounding average of 113.66 besides claiming 11 scalps at a bowling average of 24.63.
The former Pakistan great also hailed the Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his judicious and smart captaincy and admired his horses-for-courses strategy.
India’s bowling attack has apparently been their weak link in the showpiece event so far. However, Wasim Akram warned Pakistan batsmen not to take Indian attack lightly. He said that the Zaheer Khan-led bowling brigade of co-hosts is doing pretty well. The best thing about Indian attack, according to the former Pakistan seamer, was their variety.
Akram singled out India’s spearhead pacer, Zaheer Khan for praise. He said that Khan has been bowling well over the past two years but his length has been perfect in the ongoing World Cup.
When asked about the pressure of crowd on the teams, Akram reckoned India would be more under pressure since they are the hosts.
“India will be the team under pressure, not Pakistan. The media in India is big and strong. The pressure created by them is simply mind-boggling and then there are a billion people with massive expectations,” said the legendary pacer.
India's star batsman Yuvraj Singh has requested the countrymen to inspire the home team by singing the national anthem loudly before their high-profile World Cup semi-final clash Pakistan at the PCA stadium here today.
"Request all people in the stadium to inspire us by singing national anthem loudly," Yuvraj tweeted.
"Jai Hind, Good night," Yuvraj signing off. India will take on Pakistan in the second semi-final of the World Cup in the PCA stadium, which will also be attended by Prime Ministers of both the countries.
Indian middle order batsman Yuvraj Singh has asked cricket fans in the stadium to sing national anthem loudly to support the Team India.
“Sing Jana Gana loudly to boost the morale of Team India,” Yuvraj Singh tweeted ahead of the cricket’s ultimate battle at PCA ground in Mohali.
India vs Pakistan: Live commentary and score card
Several Bollywood fraternity have also wished best of luck to Team India on microblogging website Twitter.
Preity Zinta: Good Luck Team India!!!
Amitabh Bachchan: "All asking, if I am going to Mohali for the match .. no I am not.. I am working... and neither is Abhishek going. Team relaxed rahe, bas yahi dua hai (praying that the team keeps it cool).
Sonakshi Sinha: Best of luck India.. De ghumaaakeee!!!! hehehehaaa
Sunil Shetty: Today’s match is one of the best matches.
Vivek Oberoi: Wish that India win the match against Pakistan.
Madhur Bhandarkar, who will watch the match live from Mohali tweets: My heartily wishes for the men in blue. We will win today-Vande Matram
Arshad Warsi: "unfortunately I will miss the match as I will be in air when the match is on. My gut feel is that India is winning."
Shilpa Shetty: who is in Dubai, says, she can't wait for the match. "Butterflies in my stomach, wonder what players must go through... shudder!"
Dia Mirza: "Office working but I am certain the TV will be on with intermittent yelling and cheering. Fun."
Pritish Nandy: It is the real battle between Indian batsmen and Pakistan bowlers.
Sania Mirza: "Okkkk...here we gooo...good luck Team India..more than a billion wishes are with you...give it ur all..(sic)".
Shane Warne: "Big game today India vs Pakistan. Tough to choose a winner. Leaning towards whoever bats first. India to win in a thriller - just !!!!."
Actor Rahul Bose tweeted that he was on his way to Mohali to watch the match. Kunal Kapoor, another Bollywood actor, tweeted that the tension was "unbearable".
The hype over the match reached a crescendo Wednesday as a lot of cricket buffs took leave from work to watch the match. They did not forget to post their online updates, of course.
Abhinav Singh, an advertising professional, said: "This is one match I just couldn't have missed. So I applied for casual leave and thankfully my boss was understanding enough to grant me the day off! I have called over a few friends to my place so that we can watch the match together and root for India."
Sara Mishra, a student, posted on Facebook: "The big day is here! Good luck Team India! I am sure you will bowl them over".
Author Chetan Bhagat also rooted for the home team on Twitter, saying: "Alright men in blue, d-day today! Cream pak, so they finally realise why partition was a bad idea (sic)."
To all the maddening hype around, Bhagat said: "I know the match is getting overhyped, but it's ok. We get few such moments of national unity. We are one today."
The national anthems, a pantheon of leaders and celebrities from both sides of the border, and a toss that India has won to choose to bat first against Pakistan in the second semi-final of the cricket World Cup.
It's game on at Mohali. And Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag have walked out to bat.
This after Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Dr Manmohan Singh met the two teams at the PCA stadium.
Mr Gilani, accompanied by his wife Fauzia, was received at the defence airport by Union Minister of State for Communication, Sachin Pilot, and Pakistan's High Commissioner, Shahid Malik, among others.
Before leaving Islamabad for India, Mr Gilani thanked Dr Singh for inviting him to the match, and said that he's "looking forward to a great game." He also said he believes "this match will bridge the gap" between India and Pakistan. (Watch: Match will bridge India-Pak gap: Gilani)
Captains MS Dhoni and Shahid Afridi have asked their teams to ignore the hype and focus on the game - a little tough to do, perhaps, given the circumstances. (Watch: Cricket above diplomacy, say both captains) The match has mass-produced hysteria on both sides of the border. And the "aman ka chhakka" diplomatic initiative launched by Dr Singh has added a new dimension.
The electric atmosphere crackled some more last night after rain began pounding Mohali, but this morning, the Sun was out. The Met department promises a clearer sky during the match. However, there is a slight possibility of a light shower in the evening. (Read & Watch: Clear sky in Mohali ahead of match)
A large delegation is accompanying Mr Gilani. His team will use the Taj hotel in Chandigarh as its base. The main players include controversial Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who publicly warned his country's cricket team against match-fixing, provoking fierce criticism both within and outside Pakistan.
Team Singh will include Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon. Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, as well as Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi are not part of the official delegation but will attend the game and the dinner that Dr Singh is hosting at 7.30 pm tonight for the Pakistani delegation at the stadium. (Read: Gosht Barra, Tawa ki Machhi for PMs' dinner)
At the stadium, Mr Gilani and Dr Singh will watch the game from a VVIP box, but are expected to exit a little later to hold informal talks.
Last week, in a move that surprised many, Dr Singh formally invited Mr Gilani and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to watch the match with him. Mr Gilani accepted the invitation over the weekend.
Sources say that there is no formal agenda or structure for the talks between the two Prime Ministers. This is the first time such high-level talks are being held since a group of 10 Pakistanis sailed into Mumbai in November 2008 and launched India's worst-ever terror attack.
Asked if he would try to move from playing "a one-day series to a longer series" during his talks with Dr Singh at Mohali, Mr Gilani replied: "Naturally when we go (to India), the talks will be held according to the opportunity."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today received his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani at the cricket stadium here where they will watch the Indo-Pak World Cup semi-final and hold bilateral talks.
Gilani was received outside the reception area of the Punjab Cricket Association stadium by Singh who was accompanied by ICC President Sharad Pawar, BCCI President Shashank Manohar and PCA chief I S Bindra.
The national anthems, a pantheon of leaders and celebrities from both sides of the border, and a toss that India has won to choose to bat first against Pakistan in the second semi-final of the cricket World Cup.
It's game on at Mohali. And Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag have walked out to bat.
This after Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Dr Manmohan Singh met the two teams at the PCA stadium. (Watch)
Mr Gilani, accompanied by his wife Fauzia, was received at the defence airport by Union Minister of State for Communication, Sachin Pilot, and Pakistan's High Commissioner, Shahid Malik, among others.
Before leaving Islamabad for India, Mr Gilani thanked Dr Singh for inviting him to the match, and said that he's "looking forward to a great game." He also said he believes "this match will bridge the gap" between India and Pakistan. (Watch: Match will bridge India-Pak gap: Gilani)
Captains MS Dhoni and Shahid Afridi have asked their teams to ignore the hype and focus on the game - a little tough to do, perhaps, given the circumstances. (Watch: Cricket above diplomacy, say both captains) The match has mass-produced hysteria on both sides of the border. And the "aman ka chhakka" diplomatic initiative launched by Dr Singh has added a new dimension.
The electric atmosphere crackled some more last night after rain began pounding Mohali, but this morning, the Sun was out. The Met department promises a clearer sky during the match. However, there is a slight possibility of a light shower in the evening. (Read & Watch: Clear sky in Mohali ahead of match)
A large delegation is accompanying Mr Gilani. His team will use the Taj hotel in Chandigarh as its base. The main players include controversial Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who publicly warned his country's cricket team against match-fixing, provoking fierce criticism both within and outside Pakistan.
Team Singh will include Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon. Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, as well as Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi are not part of the official delegation but are attending the game. They will also attend the dinner that Dr Singh is hosting at 7.30 pm tonight for the Pakistani delegation at the stadium. (Read: Gosht Barra, Tawa ki Machhi for PMs' dinner)
Mr Gilani and Dr Singh will watch the game from a VVIP box, but are expected to exit a little later to hold informal talks.
Last week, in a move that surprised many, Dr Singh formally invited Mr Gilani and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to watch the match with him. Mr Gilani accepted the invitation over the weekend.
Sources say that there is no formal agenda or structure for the talks between the two Prime Ministers. This is the first time such high-level talks are being held since a group of 10 Pakistanis sailed into Mumbai in November 2008 and launched India's worst-ever terror attack.
Asked if he would try to move from playing "a one-day series to a longer series" during his talks with Dr Singh at Mohali, Mr Gilani replied: "Naturally when we go (to India), the talks will be held according to the opportunity."
The tense buildup to what has been billed as "the mother of all World Cup matches" came to a spine-tingling climax on Wednesday when Sachin Tendulkar strode out to bat for India with Virender Sehwag.
Hundreds of people moved into their seats as soon as the gates opened, four hours before the blockbuster semifinal between archrivals India and Pakistan was due to begin. The match was sold out last week, but incredibly there were still a few ticket-holders missing as the match began due to intensive security checks at all entrances. The 28,000 tickets for the match were the most sought-after on the subcontinent.
Tendulkar, seeking his 100th international century, and Sehwag were greeted by a tumultuous roar as they walked out onto the pitch at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
Watching them was a host of Bollywood superstars, dignitaries and high-ranking politicians - including the Prime Ministers of both countries in what is being seen as a possible first step toward improved diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.
Indian premier Manmohan Singh and Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Gilani were warmly cheered by the crowd as they walked onto the pitch following the national anthems. Singh shook hands with the Pakistan players before Gilani, while the roles were reversed as the pair met the India team.
With the two premiers in attendance, security was inevitably tighter than at any other match. Roads around the fortified stadium were closed, and anyone entering the ground had to negotiate several checks, with bags being meticulously searched for any dangerous or suspicious objects.
Police and soldiers on foot, on horse back and armored vehicles patrolled the fortified stadium, where a crush of fans had gathered. The sporting rivalry between the nations is as intense as any, but the match took on an added political significance when Gilani accepted Singh's invitation to watch with him.
"I am going there to show solidarity with our team, with their team and to promote cricket," Gilani said.
While the historic meeting occurs in the VIP box at the PCA Stadium, the sellout crowd had their eyes trained on the pitch, most of those eagerly hoping national sporting icon Tendulkar can score a century. There were small pockets of Pakistan fans waving the green and white flag, but they were almost invisible in a sea of Indian supporters. Tendulkar, whose face adorns posters across the city, was dismissed for 99 by fast bowler Umar Gul in his last match against Pakistan at Mohali in 2007.
India defeated Australia to set up the showdown with Pakistan and prompt a desperate scramble for tickets. The match has been sold out for more than a week but that didn't stop people queuing at the ticket office in the days before the match, hoping that more seats might be released.
On the black market, tickets reportedly fetched up to 100 times their face value.
Those who weren't fortunate enough to get their hands on a ticket watched on big screens set up around nearby Chandigarh, which came to a standstill for the game.
Police have also relaxed a ruling banning people living near the ground from climbing on their roofs to get a birds-eye view.
Businesses across the country shut down for the afternoon - in the knowledge that productivity would undoubtedly drop to zero anyway.
The government decreed a half day in Pakistan, meaning work stopped at noon so that people could watch the match.
It was all play and no work here Wednesday as cricket-crazy residents of Lahore , the capital of Punjab province that is the Pakistani city closest to Mohali, rushed to catch the India-Pakistan clash on their TV sets, teaming up with friends and family at home or in restaurants.
"What's the great fuss about India-Pakistan match? If Pakistan loses, would there be riots in the city?" Hilary Alexander, fashion director of the Daily Telegraph who is here for the first time for the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week, asked curiously.
Nusrat Jamil, director of Latitude PR firm, replied: "Well no, nothing like that. There might be some tyre burning on the roads. But why are you thinking like that? Let's look at it this way - if Pakistan wins, there will be celebrations on the road and you will see how much the country loves this sport."
Just like in India, several restaurants here have put up big screens out in the open. There are enough options for people to pick and choose, so no one is complaining.
Imran Khan, a banker, watched the match at his friend's place. "We are sure it will be all smiles. Indian team is no doubt better than us, but we are playing as a team, hence we are going to win," Imran told IANS. "Watching game with friends and with food and great drinks is fun. It's like having a Sunday in the middle if the week."
The excitement reached such a frenzy that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani declared half-day holiday in government offices in Punjab province while the Sindh government went a step further and announced a public holiday.
In private firms, people worked overtime Tuesday to ensure they left office Wednesday in time to catch the clash of the Titans on their television sets.
Like in India, prayers were being offered for Pakistan's win.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced that each member of the team would be given 25 acres of land if they qualify for the final.
The official outfit of the Pakistan cricket team was selling like hot cakes with the price of a T-shirt, normally priced between Rs.25-500, soaring to Rs.1,700.
"It just gives a feel of patriotism and that you are with the team by cheering for them. There is an immense sense of pride associated with the feel of wearing cricket team jersey. We hope we win, this will make the effort worth it," said Buram Khan, a student.
More than 20 million watch Americans India vs Pakistan live have multiple ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Social Security numbers online (SSNs) associated score with their highlights name in commercial records according to a new study announced in December from ID Analytics, Inc. The study found that rather than serving as a unique identifier, more than 40 million SSNs are associated with multiple people.
6.1 percent of Americans have at least two SSNs associated with their name. More than 100,000 Americans have five or more SSNs associated with their name.
Dr. Stephen Coggeshall, chief technology officer, at ID Analytics said. “Most of these cases of duplication are likely due to simple data entry errors as opposed to deliberate falsification. Nevertheless, organizations expose themselves and their customers to risk if they solely rely on the SSN to verify an individual.”
India vs Pakistan
ID Analytics analyzed 290 million Social Security numbers, and found that 1 in 7 are associated with more than one name. Anywhere from 3-4 million names are directly used to commit fraud.
MSNBC reported the same study showed 140,000 SSNs are connected to 5 or more people and 27,000 SSNs are connected to 10 or more people.
Some of these secondary SSNs are the result of typos where an administrator may incorrectly enter a digit and then that secondary SSN is now connected to a person’s credit going forward.
In other cases it is deliberate fraud. When the same person is shown using multiple Social Security numbers on purpose then a flag is raised.
Consumers often find out their SSN is compromised as a result of being denied credit or when bill collectors call them for non payment.
