| 24 SEPTEMBER 2007 is one of the most | | | | scored a fine 15 runs win over World |
| important days in the history of cricket, as | | | | Champions Australia. Just after the wins of |
| the first final of ICC World Twenty20 is | | | | their respective teams, the cricket fans of |
| going to be held on this day. On Monday, two | | | | the Indian sub-continent started to celebrate |
| of the titans, India and Pakistan are going | | | | by bursting crackers and by other means. On |
| to meet at the Wanderers Stadium, | | | | Saturday, after India's win over Australia in |
| Johannesburg in South Africa. It is really | | | | the semi-final of World Twenty20 Cup, captain |
| interesting that both these team made it to | | | | Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, "It's the biggest |
| the finals of World Twenty20, just six months | | | | stage and the biggest match you can play, |
| after first-round exits from the World Cup | | | | it's a match that needs to be played with |
| 2007 in West Indies. However, forgetting | | | | intensity and I think we are ready to do |
| their World Cup 2007 failure as a distant | | | | that." While vice-captain Yuvraj Singh, who |
| nightmare, India and Pakistan turned the | | | | made a quick 70 off 30 balls and was declared |
| tables in the inaugural World Twenty20 Cup. | | | | man of the match on Saturday, said, "India |
| Initially, it was not clear if India and | | | | versus Pakistan is a dream final, the whole |
| Pakistan would be able to reach to the finals | | | | world is going to be watching." |
| of World Twenty20, as other teams like | | | | |
| Australia, New Zealand and host South Africa | | | | Indian and Pakistani cricket fans are praying |
| were also hot favourites. | | | | for their respective teams. Who would win, |
| | | | will become clear before 9 pm today. We do |
| The young Indian team landed in South Africa | | | | not know what will happen, but Indian team is |
| without their big guns - Sachin Tendulkar, | | | | surely looking for the title, in the shorter |
| Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan. | | | | and newest version of game. This may happen, |
| Interestingly, the average age of the players | | | | as the Indian team has learned how to win |
| is below 24 years. Here I would specially | | | | matches. We can expect our batsmen - Virender |
| like to mention that India team's achievement | | | | Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj |
| is remarkable, as they do not have a special | | | | Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma |
| coach for the tournament. The strong | | | | to come up with good innings and bowlers - RP |
| determination of players and teamwork took | | | | Singh, Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan |
| them to finals. | | | | Singh and Joginder Sharma to return with |
| | | | magical figures. |
| On the other hand, the Pakistan team, which | | | | |
| passed through a dismal phase after death of | | | | Moreover, it is a great moment for all |
| former coach Bob Woolmer in Jamaica, are also | | | | Indians and we hope that Indian team will |
| having a comparatively less-experienced team. | | | | repeat the magic of World Cup 1983. It is a |
| Middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf and | | | | truth that team India has a 'final phobia' |
| all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who had a contract | | | | and that has taken away victory from India's |
| rift with the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) | | | | hands several times in the past. However, in |
| could not make their place in the team and | | | | this World Twenty20 Cup, team India is |
| controversial strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar, | | | | looking different, their excellent |
| who hit the teammate Mohammad Asif, was sent | | | | performances and fighting spirit will surely |
| home from South Africa. | | | | make them champions. Till the start of the |
| | | | game we can only say- "come on India! Come on |
| Despite such ups and downs, both India and | | | | Dhoni's army! We want the first World |
| Pakistan played exceptional cricket in South | | | | Twenty20 Cup from you guys. Just stand up, |
| Africa. Apart from a single defeat against | | | | gather your potential and score a sensational |
| New Zealand in the first match of Super 8s, | | | | win over our neighbour Pakistan." |
| the Indian team performed very well all | | | | |
| through the tournament. The India team, under | | | | India Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), |
| supervision of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, defeated | | | | Yuvraj Singh (Vice-captain), Virender Sehwag, |
| Pakistan in the first round, in a 'bowl out' | | | | Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, |
| by 3-0, after a tied game. Later they beat | | | | Joginder Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Rudra Pratap |
| England and the host South Africa, in must | | | | Singh, S Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf |
| win matches in the Super 8s. | | | | Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Ajit Agarkar and |
| | | | Dinesh Karthik. |
| Meanwhile, the other finalist Pakistan, under | | | | |
| the captaincy of Shoaib Malik lost only one | | | | Pakistan Squad: Shoaib Malik (Captain), |
| game against India but won the rest of their | | | | Salman Butt (Vice-captain), Imran Nazir, |
| matches in the tournament against Scotland, | | | | Younis Khan, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, |
| Sri Lanka, Australia and Bangladesh in the | | | | Sohail Tanvir, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, |
| Super 8s stage. | | | | Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, |
| | | | Yasir Arafat, Iftikhar Anjum and Abdur |
| In the first semi-final, Pakistan beat New | | | | Rehman. |
| Zealand and in the second semi-final, India | | | | |