MANCHESTER: Virat Kohli will have history on his side when India take onarch-rivals Pakistan in a World Cup blockbuster on Sunday — a clash thatis always more than just a game of cricket.
Match details
Match 22: Pakistan vs India
Venue: Old Trafford Cricket Ground , Manchester
Date: Sunday, 16 June
Time: 02:30pm PST, 09:30am GMT
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India cut off bilateral cricket ties with its neighbour after the 2008Mumbai terror attacks, with authorities blaming Pakistan.
Pakistan toured India in 2012/13 for a series of one-day internationals andTwenty20 matches but they have not faced each other outside of amulti-nation tournament since.
Tensions between the two countries soared earlier this year and some Indianfans and ex-players called for India to boycott the match at Old Trafford.
On the pitch, India have won all six of their meetings against theirneighbours in World Cups as they look to maintain their perfect record inManchester.
India beat Pakistan in their most recent encounter at the Asia Cup in theUnited Arab Emirates last year.
But at least Pakistan can look back for inspiration to the final of the2017 Champions Trophy in England, when they thumped their fierce rivals by180 runs.
“May there be peace and tranquility while the two Asian giants fight it outon the cricket field,” former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi told AFP.
“And may the better team win without losing out on the etiquette ofcricket.”
Kohli´s side have lived up to their billing as one of the favourites alongwith holders Australia and hosts England, with two wins and a washout inthree matches so far.
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The number-two ranked side won their opener against South Africa and thenbeat defending champions Australia before a no result against New Zealand.
Pakistan struggles
Pakistan, by contrast, are struggling in the 10-team table with just onewin — an upset against England, two defeats and a washout.
Kohli downplayed the frenzy and excitement surrounding the high-octaneclash, with more than a billion people set to tune in, but said the”intimidating” atmosphere would bring out the best from his players.
“For Sunday, we know we´re there when it comes to the mindset. Just aboutgoing out there and having a game plan, executing it,” said Kohli.
“As soon as you enter the field, it´s calm and relaxed. The atmosphere fromthe outside, for the first time, it´s a bit intimidating, but we´ll look toexecute well.
“It´s been competitive for years. It´s a marquee event all over the world,an honour to be a part of the big game. Brings out the best in all of us.”
Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed said his team needed to learn from theirmistakes to get past a powerful Indian side.
“We have to overcome our mistakes because India are also a very strongteam. We will assess our performance and then we will plan,” he said.
Passionate fans of both sides want local bragging rights even if their teamultimately goes on to lose the tournament.
“We want to win this match even if Kohli loses the Cup, we don´t care,”Harron Memon, an Indian fan in Nottingham, told AFP.
“We have always dominated India in cricket. Call it war or sport, we arecertainly going to win it come Sunday,” a Pakistan supporter wrote onTwitter.
The two teams have played each other in 131 ODI games, with Pakistan havinga clear edge with 73 wins, despite their poor record against India at WorldCups. -APP/AFP
