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SYDNEY: The anticipation, drama, energy and fan engagement is completely different in an India-Pakistan game and the possibility of a dream T20 World Cup final between the two biggest rivals in cricket excited former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson.
The Asian rivals have already clashed once in the much-hyped Group Stage match of the ongoing tournament at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where Virat Kohli produced one of the greatest T20 knocks.
The close match had millions of fans glued to their TV sets, while those who saw the heart-stopping action unfold before their eyes at the venue considered themselves the luckiest.
Now that the two teams have reached the semi-finals, albeit by following contrasting routes, an India-Pakistan title clash is expected.
India will clash with England in Adelaide on Thursday, a day after New Zealand take on Pakistan in Sydney.
“Everyone would love to see Pakistan and India in the final,” an excited Watson said on the event’s official website.
“Unfortunately I missed that first (Super 12) match at the MCG as I had previously commented on the match between Australia and New Zealand.”
Watson said he knows what he missed and would like to see a rematch.
“But from all reports, all the people who went along with that game said it was something very special and the game was obviously a great game to watch on TV as well. They played in the T20 World Cup final in 2007 and everyone would love to see it again,” he said.
New Zealand look a solid team with a smooth run while Pakistan have made it to the semi-finals.
However, Watson feels Pakistan will be a dangerous team in the semi-finals.
“There are certain times in all tournaments where a team just falls over the line and somehow finds its way to the finals and then goes on to win it,” Watson noted.
“Especially when they didn’t expect to make the semi-finals because of the way they played at certain times throughout this tournament.
“The freedom they’re going to have after they didn’t expect much in the middle of the tournament, so the freedom they’re going to have is going to be very dangerous for the Kiwis,” he said.
The Asian rivals have already clashed once in the much-hyped Group Stage match of the ongoing tournament at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where Virat Kohli produced one of the greatest T20 knocks.
The close match had millions of fans glued to their TV sets, while those who saw the heart-stopping action unfold before their eyes at the venue considered themselves the luckiest.
Now that the two teams have reached the semi-finals, albeit by following contrasting routes, an India-Pakistan title clash is expected.
India will clash with England in Adelaide on Thursday, a day after New Zealand take on Pakistan in Sydney.
“Everyone would love to see Pakistan and India in the final,” an excited Watson said on the event’s official website.
“Unfortunately I missed that first (Super 12) match at the MCG as I had previously commented on the match between Australia and New Zealand.”
Watson said he knows what he missed and would like to see a rematch.
“But from all reports, all the people who went along with that game said it was something very special and the game was obviously a great game to watch on TV as well. They played in the T20 World Cup final in 2007 and everyone would love to see it again,” he said.
New Zealand look a solid team with a smooth run while Pakistan have made it to the semi-finals.
However, Watson feels Pakistan will be a dangerous team in the semi-finals.
“There are certain times in all tournaments where a team just falls over the line and somehow finds its way to the finals and then goes on to win it,” Watson noted.
“Especially when they didn’t expect to make the semi-finals because of the way they played at certain times throughout this tournament.
“The freedom they’re going to have after they didn’t expect much in the middle of the tournament, so the freedom they’re going to have is going to be very dangerous for the Kiwis,” he said.
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