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.”
Tweets @dawn_com
I have fixed the match (in my mind)
India, batting first, will make between 200 – 250 runs.
Pakistan will start off well and reach 100-2. But then it will be 125-4, 150-6, 175-8 and all out for 190-200.
India will win.
(Note: This is just a dream of an oridinary Indian. Reverse figures if you are Pakistani!)
The team playing well and maintaining its cool will win – that’s for sure.
The team with the stronger nerve on the day will win. Historically, this has been India in the World Cup encounters, but the future is now and Afridi’s boys are tough enough to perform inside the cauldron of Mohali. Here’s hoping for a great contest and an advertisement for a great sporting rivalry.
So much has been said that Pakistan has never beaten India in WC. Please do see the following facts also
1. 2 mini world cup, both times Pak beat India
2. India never beat Pakistan in MOHALI
3. Total is 46 wins for India vs. 67 for Pakistan.
4. Only 4 time they clashed in WC.
GOOD LUCK PAKISTAN. INSHALLAH, if we win, we don’t even have to play the finals. We will just call in sick for the final and let SL or NZ carry the cup, as long as we win the semis.
pakistan only beat india in fixed matches of sharjah……and among 67 atlest 25 are in sharjah…….pls clear ur facts how pakistan has performed in last ten years against india……..
also this is the weakest pakistani team playing any world cup and this is the strongest indian team playing any worldcup event…..
Those figures by you would put any indian in pressure
But I think you forgot to elaborate the 4th point. Both teams clashed in WC 4 times and all the 4 were won by India i.e. Inda handles pressure very well every time they get that oppurtunity.
Anyways…best luck Pakistan for this match and welcome to India
you would probably have to call sick for finals if you beat India anyways. Some of the indian leaders have said that they will not allow Pak to play in Mumbai, and thats where the final is. sorry guys …
As a Pakistani am praying for Pakistan victory. They have played well against most teams except New Zealand. India also have a good team but Pakistani team is united and performing well. Despite the history against us we know we have rewritten the history by beating Australia so we are quite capable to write a new page of first victory of Pakistan against India in the World Cup Matches.
I welcome Pakistani Cricket heroes to India..Be our Guests Enjoy the stay and have a safe and easy passage to Home via the Wagah Border after the game gets over…
Regards,
Muthu.
Chennai.
India.
Good one Mate,wish you Guys should visit Pak too….
india has to win
vande mathram…Jai Hind..all the best for India.
Showkath,
Vandemataram. Jaihind. Let pakistanis come to India, enjoy the hospitality but lose the game !!
– Praveen
Let us not over do the hype. It is after all only a match. The sheer pleasure of watching two extremely competitive and skilled teams is what we should anticipate and look forward to. One team will win and the other lose. What will be more important is that the game be played in the true spirit of sportsmanship. May the winner have the good grace to be magnanimous in victory and may the loser have the fortitude to take the defeat with a smile.
In the ultimate analysis sports need not be a zero sum game about winning and losing. Both teams can emerge with their heads held high regardless of victory or defeat if the game is played and witnessed in the spirit of sportsmanship. Cricket is, after all, a gentlemans game.
May the best team win.
C- combined efforts to bring two nations together
R- Reviving friendship
I- inducing humanity
C-coutesy by two countries
K- Knitting rebuild of confidence
E- Entertainment and to forget old issues
T- Transparency of relations
Good one
I am an Indian but not fanatically Patriotic while watching or following Cricket. I have always admired great Cricketers of the World including Zaheer Abbas, Abdul Qadir, Mohd.Yousuf, Yunus Khan , Wasim Akram etc. I feel the present Pakistan team has strong spin base with Umargul as the main pace bowler with so so batting and fielding support. Similarly India has strong batting with Zaheer Khan as single pace bowler with so so fielding and bowling support. So I am keeping my fingers crossed for the much hyped and much tense match. I firmly feel Srilanka has alround ability to win the World Cup.
There is no national shame in losing a game of cricket. Media is proppping it up. It is only a game which will be forgotten within days.
Hi Ali,
Well said. I love cricket , but not the media hype. Both are great teams with great players and one will win and one has to lose. Lets not make this a war. Its just a game, a sport
I hope and strongly support Pakistan will win semifinal and final Insha Allah. This team has come out against the odds to perform extremely well. They have beaten Australia and helped Hindustan morally pack and send them home.
This is great moment for South Asia that Pakistan Sri Lanka and Hindustan have a chance to keep the cup in the region. Thats a great achivement by all three countries. Poor Bangali team could not muster a further win to make an all Asia semifinals.
Wish Hindustan can learn and let peace be in the region promoting much more healthy competition in the region creatng real South Asia Giants in Science, Technlogy etc like cricket.
Dream on for peace and prosperity!
Dear raza,
Pls dont repeat the word Hindustan , because india is a secular country .
I say good luck to both the teams. but what really rattles my chains is when I hear people from both sides saying that march 30th ( the India Pakistan is the final for them), what nonsense!!!. Yes it is a highly charged atmosphere and the emotions will be high, but the final is final, the win in this game does not matter if either of the teams are unable to win the WC ( the ultimate Goal). I wish both the teams the best of luck and I hope to see a tantalizing contest between bat and ball from both the sides.
GO ASIA
Dear All ;Lets tone down the hoopla,Lets take it as what it is.A Game;I want to see a great game with nailbiting finish.Good Luck to both teams.
cricket is a gentleman’s game but unfortunately due to flow of billions of dollars at stake ,extraordinary hype by hawks in media ,commercialism and political hostility the spirit has been adversely affected so much so that jotshis,najoomis,parrots (octopus in foot ball),all are involved in predictions and we are putting both the teams in unprecedented pressure,the great tendulkar once said that batsman needed only one ball to get out cheaply,at the same time great bowlers like wasim ,waqar ,zaheer,harbhajan,afridi are being hit for sixes by even the tail enders what to talk of greats like tendulkar,sehwag and dilshan let us all support our teams full heartedly but please dont spread hatred in the name of cricket,as a cricket admirer saner fans on both sides realize that both teams have potential match winners,who on their day can upset any team , look at performances of sehwag yuvraj,tendulkar ,zaheer,afridi,umar gul,misbah ,younas and razzaq,we should respect all these greats and admit they can change any match in their favour so guys lets hope we all enjoy a very good match and have more chances to have bilateral matches which reduce tensions and also pressure on players. As an indian kashmiri i support team india best of luck.
it would be a one of the wonderful matches,,pakistan team would be very tough for india,,the team management should include shoaib akhtar in playing 11 and captain should use him only for short spell2-3 overs,,or during to breakdown partnership,,wahab is also a good young chap but shoab has advantange over him against india,,AND AFRIDI SHOULD OPEN THE BATTING…he will make century inshallah…GOOD LUCK TO PAKISTAN TEAM…
he has scored only 65 runs in all this 7matches…may god save him…..he is just hype and his spin will go by 6 to 6 in each ball…yuvi and raina crush ur all spin in slog overs..this is not poor team of srilanka or australia………..this is worlds great team india………….
Let this be a great game of cricket….and I being an Indian supporter will 1000% want Team India to win…however, let this be also a memorable trip to all Pak fans travelling to India thru Indian hospitality….and I pray to god that no uncivilized elements take this step away from common people of the 2 countries….
Pakistani bowling attack is impressing and everybody enjoys it.Question is how Indians will face it.Dhoni is not in form.Indian bowlers are not penetrating and wicket taking.Their fielding is also not up to the mark.India can win the match only if Pakistani cricketers do not committ mistakes and HARAKIRI.
Gotya
you have got the last statement wrong
it should read india can win the match only if Pakistan cricketers committ mistakes and hara kiri and not what you have written
pm gilani would do all of southasia an honour by painting flags of pakistan and india on his cheeks. and requesting the pakistani team to sing along the indian anthem with the indian team. and whoever wins, then to declare it as a victory for southasia. presidents of india and pakistan should be wearing the colours of the other rather than stoke banal patriotism by wearing their own colours. as our muslim indian delegation said, again and again: 2 states, 2 countries, 2 nations – but one people!
I wish pakistan win semi final, this country needs good news badly. Umer akmal wil be key to pak victory. This game is going to improve relation between 2 countries.
abdulji Cricket never improve Indo-Pak relation… ur thinkin wrong… cricket is cricket and politics differ from it… we can enjoy cricket but dont think about relation.. they are politicians not common men ok……
I am so sick of Pakistani and Indian media sensationalizing this upcoming semifinal between India and Pakistan, calling it a ” War”. It’s a game folks, treat it as a game.Win or Loose, nothing will change. Our international boundaries will remain the same. And can we ever talk about peace for a change. Just a thought!!!
People….take a deep breath and relax!…..Pakistan is going to win inshaAllah…..(and no…the match isnt fixed or anything….i just have this feeling that its gonna win)…….Love you team Pakistan
I don’t think I will be able to sleep the previous night. I am sure this will be one exciting game. Wish good luck to both the teams. As an Indian I hope India wins but I also think in the back of my mind that let the best team win.
Some of the comments are really funny, however this is just a match. Guys take it easy : ) I think the team that would bat first will win this match! Although India is great at chasing at well. I wanted SA to win this time, they deserve it for so long. And also WI, though not a strong side but so disciplined team it is. Despite being a Paki, I’ve greatly admire Sachin’s game, we may never see such a player in cricket. He deserves to win WC too, and after all the troubles Pak going thru, this WC would mean a lot. So, if Pak wins, hooraay and if Ind wins, guys pls don’t tease us : )
totally agree
Let it be just the game of cricket alone.The better team will prevail.So far Pakistanis have put up a remarkable performance if they continue success will be witrhin their reach.