India poised for Pakistan semi-final

MUMBAI: The India-Pakistan World Cup semi-final is the most appetizing prospect for recovery from a month of preliminary matches, which otherwise has mostly served to confirm the identity of eight predictable end.
Pakistan and West Indies opening quarter-final in Dhaka on Wednesday, with winners drawn against the winners of India's match against Australia in Ahmedabad the next day.
South Africa and New Zealand meet in Dhaka on Friday before the Sri Lanka home in England in Colombo on Saturday in the battle for second place in the semifinals.
Anxious to avoid an early exit of one of the main contenders, after India and Pakistan flew home early from the 2007 tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched the 14 teams in a first round format around.
"We try to ensure we give each team the best chance to stay in the competition and do not lose just because of one bad game so make the best move," Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat ICC told Reuters before the tournament begins on February 19.
The ICC, television networks and sponsors got their wish in a tournament, having finally reached the knockout stages, now seems the most open since 1999.
Australia, seeking a fourth consecutive title, are not the strength of previous tournaments, losing a match of World Cup for the first time in 12 years when they were rightly beaten by Pakistan in the first round.
India have a nation ready for their success in the final Mumbai April 2. But their collective temperament has been questioned after being born with only one point from their matches against England and South Africa despite centuries on both occasions the incomparable Sachin Tendulkar.
South Africa believes that it may be their year after a history of underachievement in the tournament is based on a fine pace attack, spin bowling able to stick solid and commissioning customary slick. They are also the only team to have played their opponents every time in the group stage.
Skeptics, however, point to their failure to overhaul a modest goal against England as evidence of the fallibility continued under pressure.
England, who examined both physically and mentally spent from their heroism Ashes lost against Ireland and Bangladesh, but underlined their fighting spirit by Andrew Strauss at par with India and victories on Africa South and the Caribbean.
Colombo win against the champions in 1996 still looks like a step too far after Sri Lanka had done nothing in the first round evaluations to erode pre-tournament that they have the most balanced side in the competition.
With warmer weather and the pitches start to deteriorate rapidly, the sides of the subcontinent have a further advantage that Pakistan should make the cost of the Antilles "in Dhaka.
Their captain swashbuckler Shahid Afridi led from the front, becoming a winner with the ball taking 17 wickets with his wrist spin aggressive.
Winners of the New Zealand-South Africa semi-final will play the winners of the tie in Sri Lanka in Colombo, England on March 29. Mohali will stage the second half the next day.