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