ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final: India v Pakistan
Venue: Mohali Date: Wednesday, 30 March (1000 BST)
Coverage: Highlights on BBC Two (see listings), Red Button & online at 2200 GMT (UK only); live Test Match Special commentary (BBC 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW and online); text commentary online and mobiles; live on Sky Sports
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Captains' handshake sets tone
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni wants India to ignore the hype surrounding Wednesday's World Cup tie with Pakistan and concentrate on reaching the final.
The last-four meeting has attracted huge interest and will be attended by the prime ministers of both countries.
"We know the hype these matches generate - we're not getting involved," said Dhoni. "We need to know what we're expected to do and focus on that.
"We will have distinguished guests at the match - we have to be at our best."
A host of politicians, VIPs and celebrities will be among the 28,000-capacity crowd in Mohali as India and Pakistan go head-to-head in a World Cup semi-final for the first time.
The rivals have not met in a one-day international on Indian soil since November 2007 and the game is expected to be watched by a television audience exceeding 1bn.
Both sides are seeking to win the competition for a second time, but co-hosts India arrive as firm favourites.
They are four places above Pakistan in the ODI rankings and have a 100% record from four previous World Cup meetings with their neighbours.
Heightening the sense of anticipation is the news that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani plan to sit side-by-side at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium before holding talks over dinner.
Dhoni appreciates the magnitude of the occasion but has urged his side to focus solely on the task at hand.
"All this is part of cricket and we have to accept it," stated the wicketkeeper-batsman. "But the key is not to get involved.
Mahendra Dhoni
We are playing the semi-finals but the most important thing is how we prepare ourselves. I think you need to prepare in the same way and that's what we have been doing for the past few days
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
"We all know it's a big tournament, we have prepared a lot for it and it's better to take it one game at a time.
"We are playing the semi-finals but the most important thing is how we prepare ourselves. I think you need to prepare in the same way and that's what we have been doing for the past few days."
India got the tournament started with an 87-run victory over fellow co-hosts Bangladesh before they tied with England, then comfortably beat Ireland and the Netherlands.
A three-wicket defeat followed at the hands of Group B winners South Africa, but India sealed their place in the knockout phase by beating West Indies and eliminated holders Australia in the quarter-finals.
Dhoni has underperformed with the bat so far - managing only 125 runs in six innings - but he is adamant his struggles are not related to the added responsibility of being captain.
"It is only a cricketing aspect, nothing to do with form - I have been batting quite well," the 29-year-old explained.
"Sometimes the situations are not great to play flamboyant cricket. In the Bangladesh match, such a situation was there but I didn't get to bat.
"If you are batting at number five, six or seven you don't get to bat much if the top order scores. I think the last game [against Australia] was ideal but the ball went straight to a fielder. It does not go your way always. Form has not been a worry."
Pakistan finished top of Group A with five wins and one loss before ousting West Indies in the last eight.
Captain Shahid Afridi is the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 21 strikes at 10.71 and Dhoni admits India's powerful top-order need to be wary.
"I think they are a very good bowling attack, they have got bowlers who can bowl quick and at the same time their spinners have been doing really well and they have got part-timers who can contribute," he added.
"They have a couple of bowling all-rounders with [Abdul] Razzaq and [Shahid] Afridi that give them the liberty of playing with more than five bowlers."
Shoaib Akhtar had been tipped to spearhead Pakistan's attack but Afridi suggests the 35-year-old, who has not featured since the group-stage defeat by New Zealand and is due to retire from international cricket after the World Cup, could miss out.
"Shoaib is not 100%," said the skipper. "He is trying his level best to play and we will decide on him in the [Tuesday] evening."
When asked about his side's preparations for the match, all-rounder Afridi added: "This game is very important for both the sides. We have prepared well for this game and we are confident.
"We are not the favourites for this competition. India are the favourites and we have played above expectations. We are enjoying our cricket. If you know how to handle it, there is no need to panic. I think we will enjoy playing here."
It will be Pakistan's first cricket match in India since before the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, in which 166 people died - an atrocity which has been blamed on Pakistan-based extremists.
Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul, who has 14 wickets at an average of 14.50 at the tournament, said: "In both countries people want to see the teams play each other.
"Relations will be better if the teams play each other more often. Fans can't stand defeat but we have won six of seven matches so far and hope to play our best cricket against India."
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