An India-Pakistan match at the ICC World Cup 2011 is likely to draw a bigger worldwide audience than the final of the event if either of these teams were not to feature therein.
Their fans would dearly love to see the teams clash in the final of the event. But could India and Pakistan meet before the final? If so, at what stage?
The two sides are in different groups; while Pakistan are drawn in Group A, India are in Group B. Kenya and Zimbabwe are scheduled to bring the curtain down on group clashes, with their match at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, on March 20.
Thereafter, f our quarter-final matches are scheduled to take place at Dhaka, Ahmedabad, Dhaka and Colombo on March 23, 24, 25 and 26, respectively.
Teams A1 and B4 are scheduled to meet on March 23. This is unlikely to be an India-Pakistan affair, as Pakistan are as unlikely to head their group, as India are to finish 4th in theirs. For Pakistan to head Group A, they would have to beat the likes of Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. Similarly, for India to finish in fourth place in Group B, the squad would have to lose to three of England, South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh.
By my reckoning, India should either head their group or at least come second. In which case, Ahmedabad is ruled out as a quarter-final destination for India, as the March 24 game will feature teams A2 and B3. By a quirk of events, Pakistan could be A2, in which case, they would be unlikely to meet India in the quarter-finals at this venue.
The March 25 game at Dhaka, featuring teams A3 and B2, is a likely destination for an India-Pakistan quarter-final, if it transpired.
Alternatively, match 46, being the quarter-final scheduled between teams A4 and B1 at Colombo could also feature the sub-continental rivals, with India heading Group A and Pakistan finishing 4th in Group B.
Can these teams meet in the semi-finals? If Pakistan finish 2nd in Group A, they would play the quarter-final on March 24 at Ahmedabad, while India are likely to play either on March 25 at Dhaka or March 26 at Colombo. So, if the teams are to meet in a semi-final, it would probably be on March 30 at Mohali, featuring the winning teams on March 24 and 26.
So it all boils down to 3 possible destinations, 2 at the quarter-final stage and one in the semi-finals.
How will these games pan out?
Assuming that the teams met on March 25, at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka, neither side have an advantage over the other at this ground. India and Pakistan have met twice at this venue, both times in June 2008, and shared one win each.
Pakistan won the only meeting between the sides at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium, back in July 2004.
Interestingly, India and Pakistan have never met in an ODI at Mohali.
From India's viewpoint, a semi-final meeting at Mohali might be the best option, while Pakistan might fancy an earlier rendezvous at Colombo.
Their fans would dearly love to see the teams clash in the final of the event. But could India and Pakistan meet before the final? If so, at what stage?
The two sides are in different groups; while Pakistan are drawn in Group A, India are in Group B. Kenya and Zimbabwe are scheduled to bring the curtain down on group clashes, with their match at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, on March 20.
Thereafter, f our quarter-final matches are scheduled to take place at Dhaka, Ahmedabad, Dhaka and Colombo on March 23, 24, 25 and 26, respectively.
Teams A1 and B4 are scheduled to meet on March 23. This is unlikely to be an India-Pakistan affair, as Pakistan are as unlikely to head their group, as India are to finish 4th in theirs. For Pakistan to head Group A, they would have to beat the likes of Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. Similarly, for India to finish in fourth place in Group B, the squad would have to lose to three of England, South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh.
By my reckoning, India should either head their group or at least come second. In which case, Ahmedabad is ruled out as a quarter-final destination for India, as the March 24 game will feature teams A2 and B3. By a quirk of events, Pakistan could be A2, in which case, they would be unlikely to meet India in the quarter-finals at this venue.
The March 25 game at Dhaka, featuring teams A3 and B2, is a likely destination for an India-Pakistan quarter-final, if it transpired.
Alternatively, match 46, being the quarter-final scheduled between teams A4 and B1 at Colombo could also feature the sub-continental rivals, with India heading Group A and Pakistan finishing 4th in Group B.
Can these teams meet in the semi-finals? If Pakistan finish 2nd in Group A, they would play the quarter-final on March 24 at Ahmedabad, while India are likely to play either on March 25 at Dhaka or March 26 at Colombo. So, if the teams are to meet in a semi-final, it would probably be on March 30 at Mohali, featuring the winning teams on March 24 and 26.
So it all boils down to 3 possible destinations, 2 at the quarter-final stage and one in the semi-finals.
How will these games pan out?
Assuming that the teams met on March 25, at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Dhaka, neither side have an advantage over the other at this ground. India and Pakistan have met twice at this venue, both times in June 2008, and shared one win each.
Pakistan won the only meeting between the sides at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium, back in July 2004.
Interestingly, India and Pakistan have never met in an ODI at Mohali.
From India's viewpoint, a semi-final meeting at Mohali might be the best option, while Pakistan might fancy an earlier rendezvous at Colombo.
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