The ‘90s were the period when everyone wanted to see India take on arch rivals Pakistan. Due to reasons extending beyond cricket administration, the encounters between the two sides were few but the contests were nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat ones!
Cut to the present scenario where we have had India take on Pakistan three times in the month of June itself; it is likely that the two sides may will meet 2 more times in the coming week (in the round robin stage of the ongoing Asia cup and probably the finals too).. Before this, we have had plenty of matches between the two sides with as many as 3 series in the last 2 years! Phew ... That’s a slew of matches and this sudden spurt of matches seems to have taken the sheen off these encounters! It’s just another day at the office for the players from either sides – I mean, with the increase in the number of international matches, players have learnt to take the matches in stride but still – an India – Pakistan encounter should remain an enthralling and an exciting one for audiences! The BCCI should look to regulate the number of times these countries meet in the coming years – satiate the appetite of fans but excess of anything is not good for everyone involved!
But I ain’t complaining – after getting hooked to the tele night after night during the IPL, I find the current slew of ODIs ongoing between as many as 10 countries (yes – you read it right! 10 countries – Australia in West Indies, New Zealand in England and the 6 nations in the Asia Cup) a good way to while away the plethora of time I have on my hands these days!
So, then – I am going away to the ongoing India – Pakistan match in the Asia Cup. India’s score at the end of the 23rd over reads 179/1 – Both Sehwag and Raina are thrashing the bowlers to all corners of the park and well, Sehwag has hit the 4th six of his innings! Kya peeta hai ye?? Anyways – Am getting back to the match to cheer for Sehwag and his around-the-corner 9th ODI century! And while I wrote all this, Sehwag marched into the 90s, helping himself to 2 sixes off the bowling of Salman Butt!
N.B.: Thanks to some publishing problems, Sehwag has marched on to his 9th hundred, a well-deserved landmark for this great batsman!
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