THIS IS IT!!!!

With just one day to go, it gets even harder to control ones anticipation and expectations.

With just one day to go everybody is thinking about the ultimate.

With just one day to go, the players are dreaming of being heroes.

With just one day to go, the fans are geared up to support the team that they believe can do it.

With just one day to go, we all wait for the spectacle to begin.

Just one day separates us from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. We have waited for this event for a long time and it is a rule of life that when you get closer to a target the farther away it seems. I do not know how quick these twenty four hours would pass. For me, each hour would be like a day. I am sure the players of all the teams are feeling the same. This is the start of their endeavor to fulfill not only their dreams but the dreams of their nations.

The opening ceremony held yesterday provided a very enthusiastic start to the World Cup. Some of the performances were very breathtaking especially the vertical cricket displayed on the tallest building next to the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka. To host an opening ceremony at such a historic venue is itself very iconic. There was a fantastic display of culture by all the co-hosts that just showed the hospitality that would greet the players and the fans alike in this part of the World. It was good to see a new way to introduce the captains of the participating nations. The captains being taken to the podium on the cycle rickshaws was simple but beautiful. The official theme song was presented by Shakar-Ehsan-Loy and the evening really lit up when Bryan Adams performed. The opening ceremony was fantastic and let us hope that the quality of cricket in the World Cup is even better.

As I write the England-Pakistan warm up is on. England managed to reach 273 thanks to fifties by Collingwood and Pietersen. This is a very encouraging sign for England as both of them were having an indifferent run in ODI cricket. Pietersen was revealed as the new opening partner for Andrew Strauss in their first warm-up against Canada. In today’s warm up against Pakistan he did well to make 66. I think this is a very positive move by England. Pietersen is a genuine match winner, a positive player who always looks to play his shots. If he is given the chance to bat all the fifty overs, he can really turn it on for England. What this also does is that it adds a hitter to the middle order. Matt Prior who usually opens will now drop down the order and that will make the middle order stronger. Collingwood’s knock will give him confidence as his form is vital to England’s chances. When Collingwood is in full flow he can really attack the bowlers despite his reputation of being the grafter. With Eoin Morgan out he becomes even more crucial in the middle order with Prior, Bell and Bopara (If he plays i.e.).

England had a few injury concerns in their bowling department a week or so ago but they have eased as the rested players are back in action. Their bowling took a beating at the hands of Rizwan Cheema in the warm up against Canada but I don’t think they should be too worried as they are doing pretty decent against Pakistan. The first game was a return for quite a few of their bowlers and it would take them some time to get back into rhythm. This is the main reason I support the warm ups being conducted.

As I have said in my earlier posts that one cannot really predict how the Pakistan team would play on a given day. They are brilliant on one day and ordinary the other. If they can find consistency then they are one of the toughest to beat. In their warm up against Bangladesh they were rescued by Misbah and Shehzad after three quick wickets. The same has happened against England where they have lost three for 40 at the end of the 11th over. They have tried two different opening combinations in both the games. In the first game Hafeez walked out with Shehzad and today it was Kamran Akmal who partnered Hafeez. Shehzad has been very good opening the batting and he will open in the Group stages and further. They probably tried to give Akmal a hit in the middle today and that hasn’t helped much. They do not need to worry about their bowling. Razzaq, Shoaib, Riaz, and Ajmal form a formidable bowling attack. A lot would depend on Shoaib Akhtar. With his pace he can do some real damage to any top order. I also see Afridi playing a vital role with the ball. He can really apply the brakes on the scoring in the middle overs by picking up vital wickets. I think they can go into the World Cup with confidence and back each other to do well.

The first game is between Bangladesh and India at Mirpur. We all know what happened the last time in the West Indies when these two sides met. People are calling it a revenge game for India and why not? India would really want to win tomorrow. Since the last World Cup India have beaten Bangladesh in all the formats. Apart from drawn test match at Chittagong in 2007 all the results have been in India’s favour. However, the World Cup is the World Cup. No matter what you have done before against a team, what you do on a particular day is what matters. The same goes for both the teams. Even if India have beaten Bangladesh everytime since 2007 they still have to go out there and win. Bangladesh too have to forget about the past results, take inspiration from their win in 2007 and perform tomorrow.

The Shere Bangla National Stadium is traditionally a good batting wicket. If you win the toss you have to get 300 plus to be almost assured of victory. I say “almost assured” as the pitch doesn’t change too much in the hundred overs and also the fact that there would be dew at night making it tougher to grip the ball. If you win the toss you should bat first and get a big total. Even though some teams may want to chase on such a pitch one must remember the old theory “Get them on the board in crucial matches and you are always hard to beat.”

India have a few choices to make before the game. Out of Kohli, Yuvraj, and Raina two will play. Dhoni has hinted that Kohli will play and I think he should given his good run of form. Yuvraj will get in mainly because of his experience and the fact that he has been a very useful left arm spinner. Then they have to make the decision regarding the bowling attack. Zaheer would be back and it would be interesting to see who joins him. Munaf, Sreesanth and Nehra will have their fingers crossed as two of them will get to play. In all probability Nehra would play leaving Dhoni to make a choice between Munaf and Sreesanth.

On the other hand Bangladesh have a more or less settled combination. They will play to their strengths i.e. their openers and their left arm spinners. Tamim, Junaid and Kayes form a strong top order and a lot would be expected of them. Shuwo, Hasan, and Razzak will handle the spin department which is very difficult to dominate.

A good game awaits us at Mirpur. Let us see if the Bangladeshi openers can get good starts or the Indian Batsmen can dominate the spinners. All answers tomorrow at 02:00 PM IST.