India-Pakistan rivalry on a cricket field cannot be compared to any match in the planet. It is even bigger than the Ashes, so when these two South Asian giants clash on 15 February in the ICC World Cup, the whole world will sit up and watch the age-old rivalry.
It is a serious game across both borders, where neither groups of supporters will accept defeat, and along with it comes pressure to win.
With former Pakistan cricketers expressing their desire to break the jinx of not having defeated India in the World Cup, the men in green will come out all guns blazing looking for a first victory.
India, on the other hand, would love to defeat their neighbours for the sixth time and maintain their 100 percent record.
Both these teams have clashed five times in the past World Cups in 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 & 2011, but the Indians have always had an upper hand defeating them convincingly.
"India and Pakistan are cornered tigers in the tournament. I think the India vs Pakistan match will start from the dressing room itself," Shoaib Akhtar said at Cricket Conclave, as quoted by DAWN.
The match has always been a highly tense affair during World Cups, hence the captain of the respective sides need to control their nerves.
With MS Dhoni as the Indian captain, one can expect the players to keep a cool head under the leadership of the skipper.
Akhtar was all praise for the captain of the Indian team, who has won almost everything that is to be won as a cricketer, including the T20 world cup title along with the 50-over WC.
"With due respect and not taking any names, I have seen captains who hide behind the team under pressure. But Dhoni is one guy who would make the team hide behind him when they are under pressure. He is one guy who doesn't know the meaning of fear," Akhtar said.
India and Pakistan have been pitted in a tough pool, which also includes other top cricketing nations such as South Africa and West Indies, while other lower rung teams such as Zimbabwe, Ireland and United Arab Emirates are also included in the same 'Pool B' of the competition.
Irrespective of the winner in the clash between India and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval, both the teams are expected to progress into the knockout stages of the competition.
