Pak cricket fans are in a fix due to weather reports regarding strong rain chance during the high-intensity T20 World Cup clash between Asian giants-Pakistan and India tomorrow (Oct 23) in Melbourne. And if it became a casualty of bad weather Down Under, it will definitely cause a huge disappointment among cricket fans on both sides of the Indo-Pak border. 

As per weather report by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology, there are 95 per cent chances of rain in Melbourne on Oct 23, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The match is scheduled to start at 7pm (Australia time) and 1pm (P It may be mentioned here that rain has already washed a game between India and Kiwis New warm-up encounter in Brisbane on Wednesday last. Due to incessant rains, the encounter was abandoned while the Pakistan-Afghanistan clash also could not be completed due to rains. The two Asian arch rivals are all set to  lock horns at the MCG tomorrow. 

It may be recalled here that the Green Shirts are upbeat ahead of the Sunday encounter. Last year, they registered their first victory over India in the history of Cricket World Cups last year in Dubai. And now ahead of the Sunday encounter, the cricket euphoria is getting intense as the Sunday is approaching. In fact, the Pak cricket aficionados are ecstatic ahead of this highly-anticipated match as they want nothing less than victory.

The intensity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that tickets for this contest in the group stage of the upcoming T20 World Cup have already been sold out while a lot of fans are still running from pillar to post to get tickets. As reported, around five lakh tickets have been sold for the T20 World Cup.  In fact, it is record selling of the ticket for this 16-nation tournament which get underway on October 16 with Australia playing as hosts for the first time. Last year's India-Pakistan encounter at the T20 Men's World Cup had garnered a record television reach of 167 million. The highly-anticipated match had seen Pakistan writing history, beating India for the first time in a world cup fixture. In the thrilling contest, the Green Shirts had inflicted a chastening 10-wicket defeat on their arch-rivals.  

The fans are eyeing second T20 World Cup title but they are more focused on Indo-Pak encounter. Our middle order batsmen have delivered goods in recent encounters, particularly the last two matches. So the team captain Babar Azam and the entire team is confident to perform well in this mega tournament.

Rizwan is the top-ranked batman in T20 format of cricket while the skipper Babar Azam  is also upbeat about his performance with the bat. 

Meanwhile, cricket analysts have advised the Green Shirts to be extremely careful o the ground with regarding to taking catches and not to repeat the past mistakes  of running out of steam like they did last year, when Pakistan was on top in the Super 12 stage with  unbeaten show but were later sent packing by Australia in the semi-final encounter.

As a matter of fact, there is nothing like an Indo-Pak cricket match. It may be recalled here that bilateral cricket has been the victim of sports politics by Modi regime due to which the two sides only  play each other on  neutral venues  in multi-team events like the Asia Cup or World or other bigger cricketing extravaganzas. Pakistan is well poised to win this encounter as  they have a psychological edge over their opponents, who they had beat by 10 wickets in their previous fixture last year during a T20 World Cup match in Dubai. In the wake of the cricket's world's most intense sports rivalries between the two neighbors, a great cricket is expected with unmatched moments of cricket sensations on the ground when the two will fight for Asian supremacy.  

In the backdrop of disturbing Situation on the political, social, and economic fronts, sports are the only venue to cheer the Pakistani people, who get such moments rarely.  So all eyes are set on the Green Shirts to deliver in style and make the Pak fans happy in these testing times.  Sports analysts say that sports should not be mingled with politics as Modi regime has been doing in India.

Last year when Pakistan beat India, there were a number of court cases initiated against cricket fans in India for cheering Pakistan team, In held Kashmir, youths were booked for terrorism charge for cheering Pakistan victory. In fact, the draconian Indian law called the IPC was weaponized by the Modi regime which can be gauged from the fact the  Police registered a case under the draconian anti-terror law, UAPA, against medical students in Srinagar for cheering for Green Shirts in the Indo Pak T20 match.  

In Rajasthan, the authorities booked and held a female schoolteacher for a social media post in which she cheer for the Green Shirts. She was also suspended from the job.  The Modi regime went to the extent to file sedition charges against Youth for cheering Pakistan side. Just imagine, elsewhere in India whether it the state of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan or any other part of India, as many as 20 people (mainly young Muslims) were arrested and charged for sedition for cheering Pakistan's team.

Pakistan bowling attack is strong with spearhead Shaheen Afridi also back with a bang from a knee injury and has joined the team, further strengthening the pace attack that includes the likes of Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf who are in good form. In addition, Haris game  has improved and duo can turn tables on the opponents with new ball and in the death overs as well. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 22 2022

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