It is fantasy cricket time after all, India versus Pakistan in the final of a Champions Trophy. It’s amazing that in the 42 years — starting with the first World Cup in 1975 — that ICC has organised world events for 50-over cricket, this dream finale has always eluded them.
They have come close on occasions. Pakistan lost to West Indies in the 1983 semifinals when India won the World Cup. Both teams lost their semifinals in the next edition and Pakistan fell one step short again at the ICC Knockout — as Champions Trophy was known then — in 2000. And the two teams crossed paths in the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup, when India won it for a second time.
Not many would have thought this edition of the Champions Trophy would end the long wait, especially on the back of how comprehensively India humbled their arch rivals two Sundays ago at Edgbaston. But while India have, save the upset against Sri Lanka, cruised into the final as defending champions, Pakistan have defied all expectations with exceptional cricket.
No wonder, everyone wants to be there for the mother of all battles, now with a trophy at stake. It’s not just the average fan who’s pulling all stops to be at the Oval before 10.30 am on Sunday morning. It’s learnt that BCCI officials spent most of Friday and Saturday haggling with ICC organisers for extra tickets with a number of luminaries from the political and Bollywood world expected to turn up.
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