Update: Dawn.com invites its readers to be a part of its first ever Global Blog and share their experiences by blogging in real time.
No matter where you are, just as long as you’re tuned in to the live coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 India vs Pakistan semi-final, here is your chance to provide your analysis, set the field, live commentate, share pictures and videos, predict the outcome of the match and have your say as Pakistan takes on India in what promises to be a cracking showdown.
For details visit Live: Pakistan vs India
The prospect itself is so hot that it does not require you to employ the art of phrasing and utilise your gift of gab in order to have your say, but have your say you must because its Pakistan versus India and the cricket fever doesn’t get any hotter than this! This is exactly why we at dawn.com would like to invite you to have your say and let it out your way regarding the biggest event, need I say, bigger than the World Cup final that the cricket crazy world is about to witness.
You can send us your critical analysis in the form of a blog post (blog@dawn.com) or shout out in a comment. You can also tweet at us @dawn_com or leave your comments on our Facebook page and we will feature it here along with all the other contributions from our readers. We’ll be challenging our own producers to come up with interesting content on the epic event to be held in the near future but we want you to have your say as well. Compose a song, make a webcam video cheering your team, or send us an audio visual slideshow! Do something and we’ll put it up for the world to see.
The internet has become an intense driving force in modern times as recent events have shown. Fuelled by the voices of the online population, this time around Pakistan vs India is bigger than ever! So, don’t miss out on this opportunity to have your say, your way, and let it rip. However, we do advise you, for the sake of “good sportsmanship” to refrain from the “free and frank exchanges of views on female relatives” which has always been an essential part of the India-Pakistan rivalry, as alluded to by Cricinfo.
P.S. Our friends from across the border are equal contributors to debates on our website, so let us be insightful towards content vouching India triumphing over Pakistan and not forget that as fans, what we’re really celebrating is the spirit of cricket.
P.P.S. The winner of this competition (it’s not really a competition, it’s just an opportunity for you to rant out whichever way you want) will get the chance to watch the Pakistan vs India Semi-Final of the ICC World Cup 2011 live on our competitor’s television channel!
The views expressed by the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
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Featured Comments
Taimur Sikander says, “This is what Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik had to say about the Pakistan-India semi-final on March 30: “I had given a warning yesterday (Sunday) that there should be no match fixing. This time I am watching it very closely. If any such thing happens, we will take action,” Malik told reporters in Karachi Monday.
“They should continue the practice and go to bed early, rise up according to their schedule and dedicate themselves to the game for Pakistan,” he added.
Mr Malik, we are also watching you very closely. Go to bed early, eat your cereal and focus on your job.
We’re sure it must be a tough job, picking out the right tie and handkerchief combination.
It is understood that you have since called and apologised to Pakistan’s captain, Shahid Afridi about your earlier remarks.
“A section of (the) press has twisted my statement out of context, and wrongly projected my words,” Malik posted on Twitter, Monday night.
You know what they say about those who speak too much…
P.S. The people do in fact trust the players more than they trust you, as is being said by many a Pakistani politician.”
Shagufta Naaz sent us a short piece titled “War Games”:
“‘Pakistan and India go to war in the semi-final’ screams the headline of a leading Urdu daily (incidentally, one of the same group that has been shouting itself hoarse in the pursuit of Hope for Peace). “It’s war!” say my friends as they gear up in green T-shirts (the price of which keeps rising as the date of the match draws closer). “It’s war!” state all the commentators, analysts and of course, the ubiquitous morning show hosts. Oh yes, a match between India and Pakistan can never be just that: a game between two teams; thanks to over 60 years of a very complex, painful history, any meeting in the ground is seen as yet another encounter with the enemy. It’s not just cricket, it’s war.
Excuse me, but am I the only one who finds this casual use of the ‘W’ word distasteful? Yes, winning against India is a matter of pride and honour (or so they say), more so even than winning against the Aussies, even though it was an Australian who called our captain ‘idiotic.’ What would our reaction have been if an Indian had said that I wonder?
But to come back to the impending semi-final, feelings are running high on both sides of the border — and even further ashore. Students studying abroad report that fights between Pakistani and Indian students erupt daily on campuses, even before the two sides have come together in the ground. These are kids, many of whom may not even have seen their ‘homeland.’ Certainly none of them lived through the horrors of Partition, the trials of the ’65 and ’71 wars or perhaps even the tense days of Kargil. So where is all this anger coming from?
Perhaps all Pakistanis are born with an anti-India gene; perhaps Indians too have an anti-Pakistan gene; and perhaps venting this anger at a cricket match is better than taking it out in a more deadly manner. But just for the record — war is about death, destruction and unimaginable misery. A cricket match is about fun, excitement and, if we’re lucky, a reason to celebrate. Let’s try to keep the difference clear.”
Comments on Facebook
Chinmay Sharma says, “Many ppl have said that this is just a game but lets be reasonable it is actually a war on sports field. India and Pakistan are playing after 4 years. It doesn’t mean that ppl will kill each other but its a kind of satisfying frustration of an uneasy relationship like tom and jerry. So far but so close.”
Muhammad Hasan says, “Clash of rivals, but with manners and ethics. 
bats not guns, balls not artilary crackers.”
Raahil Faraaz says, “There is huge excitement over the match and we are all looking forward to a great game of cricket that will be a victory for sport. It gives me great pleasure to invite all pakistani to visit Mohali and join us and the millions of fans from our two countries to watch the match.”
Zia Ullah Akhunzada says, “It ll be more than a cricket match.Pressure will be on both teams.A great chance for Pakistan to take the 1996 revenge.”
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Both the teams are well balanced and on their day, each team has the potential as well as the talent to turn the tables on their opponents.
Nevertheless, history is testimony to the fact that the team playing better cricket in all the departments of the game on March 30, 2011 will win. Also mental and psychological toughness of the two teams and its players will make a big difference between eventually winners and losers.
There is no doubt in the minds of cricket academics, scholars and experts that it’s hard for any batsman to play genuine fast bowling and the ‘green shirts’ have a clear advantage against India in that department. Maybe, India has got a good batting line-up but we all know that India’s batting is highly vulnerable against real fast bowling like that of Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul. We all remember India losing nine wickets for only 29 runs in the same world cup 2011 only few weeks ago.
Therefore, if the ‘green shirts’ can keep their cool in tact and refrain from indulging into too many “off-the-field” activities including late night outs especially on the eve of the Semi-finals, they definitely have better and brighter chances of beating India in India.
A win against India in the world cup 2011 will bring lots of joys and happiness to the hearts and souls of the 180 million plus brave countrymen and women of the ‘green shirts,’ who have yet to see a Pakistani cricket team beating India since the last 36 plus years history of the cricket world cup.
Keep up the good work Pakistan and hang in tough there as they say in America. You have the three ‘ts’ – the talents, the traits and the technique to be the # one cricket team in the world. Now its up to you how you to full exploit and intelligently utilize those God given capabilities and potentialities in order to write a new chapter in the history of the world cup 2011. Pakistan, Paeendaa Baad.
it will be going to become just ur wishes and reality will be this.
India beaten pakistan with handsome margin…sachin once again become hero of the match and scored his 100th century in international cricket..
Its going to be Pakistani Bowling versis indian batting…….may the best team win
Tu Bas Khel Dekh Aur Lutf Uthaa,
Chal Muskura, Chal Muskura….
I am an Indian, honestly it does not matter whether we win or not against Pakistan, because the victory against Australia in the Quarter Finals is much tougher and sweeter than whatever going to be the result of this tie.
Moreover, India has moved away from the Pakistan paronoia since Dhoni took the captaincy. We now playing a professional cricket that was very well echoed by Dhoni himself during the presentation of the Quarter final match. He said, ‘Its an another game, whether we play Pakistan or some other team its does not matter for us’.
So, expecting India to play professionally as they have been doing for the past 4 years. Good Luch to both the teams.
are you already getting prepared to cry “sour grapes!”
No I am simply defusing the tension (for myself) , lol
Cricket world cup…. India Vs. Pakistan, cant get better. I hope this encounter turns out to be fighting last over encouter & personally, I wish India wins but, if Pakistan prevails….. I’ll still enjoy & wish the winning team to lift the world cup. I’m looking forward to re-cherish the game I cannot forget (WC clash in Bangalore 1996).
Also, lets live in friendship, peace & camaraderie we regularly display when we meet outside our countries (I meet Pakistanis as if it our Indian bro at hotels, taxis, resturants & sometime at cricket grouds). I wish peace & prosperity to both countries.
Wow, never expected this kind of civilized response from both the sides. How true its only a game and not a war..If only the media from both the countries understand this and don’t fuel the hatred. Of course I want India to win as its my country but I guess its only natural to support your own team. Lets all watch this match in the true spirit of the game.
india & pakistan are two brothers , so doesnt matter who ll the winner.
Pakistan will win the world cup- they have the best players
Heart says Pakistan will emerge on top,mind says without performance it cant happen!
Let us hope that it is a cracker of a game played in the right spirit of sportsmanship. We must also remember that it is a game not a war, winning and losing are an integral part of sport. Both teams must play good cricket, result whatever it may be. While Pakistan has the best bowling line up the top 5 Indian batsmen have posted over 1500 runs on the board in this World Cup with five centuries.
The teams in group A qualified on a canter as the bottom three teams could not pose a challenge. In Group B the 3 weaker teams posted 10 points on the board and literally made the stronger teams sweat. By excluding the team strengths the real toss up will be between a weak Indian bowling line up and similarly suspect Pakistan batting card. The tilting point in this game could come from the Captaincy. Afridi tends to get agitated and upset when his bowlers spray all over, tending to render advice with every ball. Experienced bowlers will resent such frequent intrusions. Dhoni remains cool in the face of the worst bowling and rarely shows emotion. He tends to back his bowlers when they have a bad day. His under performing bowlers may well decide to payback the confidence reposed by their skipper in the next match.
Good luck to Team Green !
as a indian…we say CHAK DE INDIA…. as a pakistani you will sing DIL DIL PAKISTAN.
HINDUSTAN JEETE YA PAKISTAN…BUS HAARE NAHI INSAAN.
its a real nail biting prospect.. a match not for the faint hearted.. its a match of the Blues v/s the Greens.. lets hope its not ruined by the Saffrons on our side.. i hope that the PM and Pres of Pakistan accept the invite of Dr. Singh and attend the match.. whatever said and done, we all want peace and not war.. in fact, from the reports we see everyday, Pakistan is suffering a 26/11 almost on a daily basis.. we must come together to work together constructively and in harmony so that united we stand as a potent force.. kashmir has become more of a prestige issue for the two countries and will not be resolved in the near future.. let that not be a starting point for peace talks.. that should be the last issue to be dealt with.. to be honest i wish we could have seen india v/s pakistan in the final at mumbai.. i am from mumbai and we have never been able to see pakistan play here.. i want to convey to all the pakistan citizens, do not worry abt shiv sena.. they have their own political agenda.. but the people of mumbai and india are cricket lovers and will not allow anyone to just ruin such an event.. we welcome the pakistani players and wish them all the best so that they win the battle just like ricky ponting did but allow us to win the war ;)..
wel!! as long as I think it is a game, it fell ok. but it’s very true that team-India has shown such performance in last 1-2 years, that the pressure to win the Cup by India is not only on the team-India but also on cricket fans (from who so ever country). This is going to be a most tough game for India. Other side (Pakistan) looks already won more then their hopes, so they would not be in pressure and so they have a better chance to win this game. Team-Pakistan became expert of creating pressure in field but Team-India is expert to bat well under any pressure. so, the game would not be decided by India’ bat or Pakis’ field, the final result would be depend on how Paki bat and Indian Field. I wish India would repeat their field against Aus and Sachin, Yuvi would repeat 2003, to make sure no turning-point comes. Wish best luck to Team-India, Wish they will beat the pressure, as usual. finally it is a game, god get us out of pressure of cricket-mania.
Hi everybody. The point to note about this tournment is the sad decline of the once great teams – Australia, South Africa, West Indies and even England. Some years ago Zimbabwe was also a good team. So, this World Cup has lost some of it’s zing. Why has the quality of cricket gone down in these countries ? Because youngsters are taking to other sports and are not so keen on cricket any more. In some years lets hope this does not become just a sub continental game. Bangladesh is showing promise though.
It’s quite amusing to read about people in both India and Pakistan invoking the blessings of the All Mighty to win the match !! I think perhaps HE has more important things to do. It’s only a game. Relax and enjoy it.
Exactly.
This world cup looks so dull and boring with no competition from major sides like SA and Australia.
The performance of Pakistan, to be brutally honest, does not interest me at all, because they seem like a teen high on adrenaline, fighting overtime, trying to prove a point after being the butt of the joke in the entire class (I’m referring to all the scandals here). This also is one of the reasons why not many cricket fans (refer to various international blogs on cricket) are giving the respect to Pakistani team, which otherwise would have earned.
Besides the controversy as to who is going to win. Manmohan singh should have also invited Gen Kayani and ISI chiefto India for the match. Inviting Zardari and Gilani is such a wasteof time. These men have no power in the Pakistani foreign policy. The policy is made in GHQ and God known when will India realise this that to have peace with pakistan they need to talk to the Army and not the politicians.
As an Indian supporter, I would be happy to see India win. But if it doesn’t, I would definitely cheer Pakistan in the finals..
As most of our friends wisely commented, let us not consider this as a victory or loss of any country..
Its is just a game.. nothing more than that..
Good luck India.. Good luck Pakistan..
Lets admit that India is a better side, on paper and on rankings. But in games such as these you just cant count out anyone. Take the match between New Zealand and SA for example. Pressure would be immense on both the teams. I would suggest that our PM or PRES should not go there as it would add to the pressure on Pakistan Team. My team would be MH, KA, AS, YK, MH, UA, SA, AR, UG, SAj (coz their inform batsman is left handed), SAk (coz of experience).
India playing at home ground will be under pressure to perform and win against pakistan. Pakistan on the other hand would be playing with less stress compared to india.
Pakistan, India or Sri lanka, I say the cup should stay in the sub continent ( BROWN POWER)
Its fight between between Indian Cricket Team and Pakistan Cricekt Team and not a war between India and Pakistan. Lets take it as a game and lets the hope spirit of the game wins.
Indian win against Pakistan is a foregone conclusion. All astrologers are unanimous on this point. What remains to be seen is how tough the contest will be. Indian players and public are not worried about Pakistan at all.
Many people are saying “its just a game …..” i dont think so this is a war we all dream of….. every indian and paki cricketer lives for this moment. the one who wins will be a legend and the other team will be scarred this is a fact a loss here will not be forgotten i personally feel indians are more mentally prepared having played recent matches under pressure eng sa and aus but ..after all the scandals pakis are here …. what a fighting spirit .this will probably be sachins shoaibs sehwags and some more greats last world cup …. this is it…this is where u prove your worth when it matters.
bijon
mumbai
Well, forget India or Pakistan. Underground bookies are the ones who are going to make the killing in this exciting match … I sincerely hope cricket as a game prevail and bring joy to the numerous fans.
Please don’t make it Hindu-Muslim fisad.
Let a game be played in its true spirit.