Written by Maverick White for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
India vs Pakistan | Friday 21 March | Dhaka | 15:30
Seven years ago, the Wanderers in Johannesburg witnessed history. India beat Pakistan by a narrow five-run margin to lift the inaugural World T20 trophy, catapulting the format into the lucrative people-pleaser that it is today. From India’s tournament victory came the creation of the IPL and subsequent local T20 leagues; it seems so fitting that the two nations that unwittingly birthed a cricketing revolution begin the Super 10 stage to this year’s competition in one of cricket’s most emotionally charged and volatile rivalries. This kind of fixture, the first in the group for both sides, brings new meaning to the adage of “getting off to a good start”. A win here could send a side’s confidence to stratospheric heights, while a loss could not only damage team morale but severely curtail qualification chances in a veritable Group of Death.
To Win
India 7/10
Tie 35/1
Pakistan 11/10
India
Could the sporting narrative be more perfectly poised for India’s most beloved leader? MS Dhoni returns to an Indian side in dire need of direction. They have flagged in recent encounters, failing to win a match in either South Africa or New Zealand before crashing unceremoniously out of the Asia Cup. Their last series win on the road came in Zimbabwe, though Dhoni welcomes the tournament held in Bangladesh. Despite the side’s poor showing in the country during the Asia Cup, in which they won only half their games, losing to Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Dhoni is confident that conditions will suit the Indian team. The Asia Cup was a fifty-over tournament so the format change may suit India, though they have scant T20 match practice to draw on. Prior to their warm-up match against Sri Lanka, which they lost, India had only played five T20 internationals since the last World T20 in 2012. The lack of preparation is evident, though Dhoni won’t let such matters trouble him. He feels the IPL is more than adequate preparation, with players engrossed in T20 for the better part of two months. However, the IPL was almost a year ago and since then Indian cricket has struggled to find momentum. Nevertheless, the BCCI have publicly backed the coaching staff and Duncan Fletcher will keep his job, for now. With Fletcher an all but silent participant in the Indian cricket juggernaut, one feels it is Dhoni who pulls the strings within the side. And it is India’s bold leader who is burdened with the task of securing all three ICC international trophies for his country, the Champions Trophy and ICC World Cup already on the mantlepiece.
Pakistan
The most successful side in the short history of the tournament, Pakistan, upon making the final in 2007, have twice made the semi-finals and have won the competition once. Often referred to as an unpredictable side, it’s tough to ignore that their formline in world tournaments contradicts this notion. Sure, when Pakistan have an off day it is more catastrophically horrendous than most, but under new coach Moin Khan these lapses have become less frequent. The Pakistanis seem confident ahead of their clash with their most bitter rivals; although they have paid India the media dues they deserve, knowing they beat them through fifty overs two weeks back will be a boost. However, Pakistan will also be aware that they have only won one of the five T20s contested with India and admit that India have potentially the strongest batting line-up in the competition. Interestingly, Pakistan will retain eleven members of the squad that took part in the Asia Cup, ensuring a tight and well versed unit. In Bangladesh, Pakistan will almost certainly be a force to be reckoned with. They have players such as Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal and Saeed Ajmal in form. As always, they will revel in their dark horse status.
Venue
The Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka will play host the opening match of the Super 10 stage. It is the ground that hosted the Asia Cup Final and that match, combined with Bangladesh’s short qualifying fixture against Afghanistan, leads one to believe that it is a good track for batting. Pakistan 260 was indefendible against Sri Lanka, whilst Bangladesh knocked off Afghanistan’s paltry 72 in twelve overs without ever looking troubled. Teams should look for 170+ here. The weather will not be a concern.
VERDICT: Pakistan 11/10
India have looked a side distraught, while the opposite can be said for Pakistan. It has been quite a while since Pakistan have looked, as well as acted, in a consistent manner and for that reason I see them pulling off a heist here. In probably will not be pretty, but I expect Pakistan to scrape over the line.
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