The result would only be of academic interest but it is unlikely to be just another dead rubber when traditional foes India and Pakistan take on each other in their final Group B match of the Champions Trophy here on Saturday.
like every time they have clashed, arch-rivals India and Pakistan will be taking fresh guard at Edgbaston. With India already in the semifinals and Pakistan out of the competition, the last group B league fixture will only be of academic interest, but only just. When the CT tickets went online for sale in April this year, it took all of 30 minutes for the allocated tickets to be lapped up. The insatiable demand from Indian and Pakistani fans will mean Saturday’s game will be more than a dead rubber.
Birmingham is the second most populous city outside of london. The city is home to a chunky mass of Asian expats whose voracious appetite for cricket has always seen Edgbaston wearing its prettiest frock when both the nation play.
like any such battle where mind and matter go hand in hand, the contest will be unique as it will test both skill and mental toughness of the players. With nothing to lose, Pakistan can be a dangerous enemy.
The agony of crashing out of the CT after two horrible performances against West Indies and South Africa will be instantly forgotten if Pakistan can beat India, the reigning World Cup champions and the No. 1 ODI team according to the ICC. CT history is, of course, siding with Pakistan. They have never lost to India in six editions of this event.
Pakistan’s first win in this tournament came at Edgbaston in September, 2004. In head-to-head, Pakistan made it 2-0 against India with a 54-run win at the Supersport Park in Centurion in September 2009. Purely on form, India have a good chance to pull one back this time. A win will take India to the top of group B with six full points and they will play the No. 2 team in group A.
The match will be a clash between Pakistan’s bowlers and India’s batsmen. With rain soaking Edgbaston on Wednesday and Thursday and the sun playing hide and seek, conditions may not be ideal for high scores.
But India will back themselves largely because they have posted 300-plus scores thrice in four games, twice in warm-up matches. The toss, therefore, will be crucial as the team batting second will have the advantage of pacing its innings according to the circumstances.
Both India and Pakistan have sound knowledge of the Edgbaston wicket. Riding on hundreds from Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik, India chased down 333 with consummate ease here in a warm-up match against Sri lanka on June 1. Pakistan, on the other hand, were shot out for 167, chasing South Africa’s 234 for nine in a group league game on June 10.
Pakistan’s batting has been a serious worry in this tournament. The absence of a grafter in the top-order has exposed the brittle middle-order too soon. Except opener Nasir Jamshed and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, none of the batsmen have fired. Mohammed Hafeez and Malik’s poor run with the bat hit Pakistan hard.
India’s batting remains their biggest strength. The opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan has worked like magic. Against quality pace attacks, especially against a South African pace quartet, the duo put on 100-plus stands that gave set up the middle-order to control the innings.
Dhawan has been outstanding with back-to-back centuries. The last time the teams met, Pakistan surprised hosts India 2-1 in a short series in December 2012-January 2013. The left-handed Jamshed made it a memorable tour with back-to-back-hundreds at Chepauk and Eden Gardens. Pakistan won both games.
But come Saturday, the battle lines will be drawn afresh and only pride and honour will be at stake.