T20 World Cup: Fans anticipate thrilling match as Pakistan, India face off

Dubai: Billions of cricket fans are anticipating a thrilling match as Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India in an electrifying curtain-raiser in its first match of the ICC T-20 cricket World Cup in Dubai today (October 24). The match will commence at 7:00pm (Pakistan Standard Time).

With Dubai as host, the old foes will again resume their rivalry today with the hype and unbearable tension generated every time the sub-continent rivals meet.

Over the past few years, the rivalry between India and Pakistan is largely confined to ICC tournaments.  

The fiery clashes at the borders between the neighbours have cost the bilateral series between the nations, which are no longer scheduled, meaning they only square-off once in a blue moon at ICC events.  

Meanwhile, Pakistan enjoyed a cruising win over the West Indies before losing to South Africa in a thrilling last-ball finish in their two warm-up games. 

Today, cricket fans across the globe will be glued to their televisions and nearly 30,000 spectators will be inside the stadium to witness the most unpredictable match.   

Additionally, in the ICC T20I Rankings, India is ranked second and Pakistan third, just five points behind. 

Five years on 

The tournament’s current flagship event is being staged after a five-year gap for various reasons. In 2016, Pakistan team were led by the mercurial Shahid Afridi. 

Both teams had hardly faced each other in the shortest format of the game— eight matches in 14 years, including the two famous matches in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.

When it comes to Pak-Indo cricket clash, it’s just simply about far more than just cricket.