Emotions and India vs. Pakistan encounter

Today there are a few warm-up matches of ICC T20 World Cup. One of them is between arch rivals India and Pakistan while other is between Netherlands and Ireland. I watched bits and pieces of Netherlands vs. Ireland game which preceded India vs. Pakistan encounter. It was scheduled to end an hour before India vs. Pakistan match. The stadium looked to be full when Netherlands and Ireland match was going on. Looking closely, one could notice that most of the fans were wearing either Indian or Pakistani colours and they were already in mood for impending India vs. Pakistan encounter.

Few games raise as much emotions as a India vs. Pakistan encounter. Traditionally there has been immense political animosity between two countries; due to which a game between two countries is not considered less than a tiny battle. There has been no scientific research to determine the level of emotions when these two countries play each other as compared to any other match but the way fans behave or the manner in which media reports says it all. Nothing seems bigger than an India vs. Pakistan encounter.

Media also tries to sell the hype around the match for its own good. But somehow, I think, over past few years the emotions attached with a India vs. Pakistan encounter have diminished - at least among Indian fans. I think it all started with rise of India a financial powerhouse in cricketing world. And around the same time Mr. Vajpayee also came to power in India and started exploring congenial relations with Pakistan which culminated in a few bilateral series between two countries. These bilateral series had salubrious effect on the fans and the craze started dying down.

A long time Indian fan would remember 80s and 90s when there were very few matches between the two countries. And fans used to religiously follow each and every ball of the scarce encounter. Pitched battles in Sharjah and One Day World Cups are part of cricketing folklore. Can you remember anything significant from the matches that were played in last 10 years?

A third interesting thing happened around the same time - rise of Australia as a cricketing powerhouse. Indian team may have a chequered record over last 10 years but they have given nothing away to Australia in their encounters. And many encounters, in last 10 years, between these two countries have been as acrimonious as an India vs. Pakistan encounter. In fact, it is because of India that Australia seems to be relegating the number 1 spot in world cricket. In my opinion, an Indian fan today, relishes thrashing Australia more than beating Pakistan.

Only time will tell what future hold for an India vs. Pakistan encounter but today's encounter may be as bitter as an 80s or a 90s encounter. Why?
1. Pakistan has never beaten India in a World Cup match.
2. ICC T20 2007 World Cup final is still remembered by both nations albeit for different reasons.
2. After 26/11, Lahore attacks and ultimately isolation of Pakistan from world cricket, Pakistan team and fans want to prove a thing or two to rest of the world.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and enjoy the match as a sporting encounter. :)