The anticipation, drama, energy and fan-involvement 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 has got former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson excited.

The Asian rivals have already clashed once in the much talked-about Group stage match of the ongoing tournament at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where Virat Kohli conjured up one of the greatest T20 knocks.
Now that the two teams have reached the semi-final stage, albeit by taking contrasting routes, an India-Pakistan title clash is being anticipated.

Shaheen Shah Afridi. Twitter

India will clash with England on Thursday in Adelaide, a day after New Zealand take on Pakistan in Sydney.

“Everyone would love to see Pakistan and India in the final,” an excited Watson was quoted as saying by the official website of the event.

“I, unfortunately, missed that first (Super 12) game at the MCG, as I commentated the game previously between Australia and New Zealand.”

Watson said he knows what he missed and would love to see a re-match.

“But from all reports, all the people that went along to that game said it was something very special and the game was obviously an amazing 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 settled side with a smooth run while Pakistan have huffed and puffed to the semi-finals. However, Watson feels Pakistan will be a dangerous side in the semi-finals.

“There are certain times in all tournaments where a team just falls across the line and somehow finds its way into the finals and then goes on to win it,” Watson noted.

“Especially when they weren’t expecting to make the semis because of the way they played at certain times throughout this tournament.

“The freedom they are going to have after not expecting much in the middle of the tournament, they are going to be very dangerous for the Kiwis,” he said.

Injury cloud over Malan

Adelaide: England batter Dawid Malan is a doubtful starter for his side’s T20 World Cup semi-final against India on Thursday after picking up a groin injury on Saturday.

Malan sustained a groin injury in England’s four-wicket win over Sri Lanka, their final Super 12 game. The former world No. 1 T20I batter hobbled off the field during the Sri Lankan innings and did not return to bat in England’s run chase.

Vice-captain Moeen Ali said Malan’s injury doesn’t look good. “He is a big player and has been for a number of years,” Ali told the BBC. “He has been one of our best players. I don’t know but it (Malan’s injury) doesn’t look great.”

PTI