Indians sit pretty

There is much speculation over the permutations and combinations and the tactics of the Pakistan team — every one from the several parliamentarians on board for the session of the National Assembly, the Captain and crew of the PIA 747 from Karachi down to the driver of the car driving me to the hotel gave their expert advice and opinions. The vote was heavily in favour of Shahid Afridi in place of Younis Khan and Saqlain Mushtaq for Shoaib Malik.

There are also reports that the Chief Selector Wasim Bari has asked the PCB to define his authority and insists that the Selection Committee should be empowered to name the final playing XI rather than leave it to the coach and captain.

The Indians, on the other hand, are sitting pretty with their 1-0 lead. Most of them chose to stay in their hotel yesterday while Dravid and Kartik took time off to see the ancient ruins and the museum at Taxila. They put in some practice today and were driven back in a coach with darkened glasses and heavy armed escorts much to the puzzling looks of the bystanders.

There is a fair amount of sympathy here for the Indian players because they are not able to move around freely and enjoy the sights and sounds of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. And, above all, unable to savour the region’s food — which is reportedly tasted, cleared and then served.

Some are of the opinion that perhaps too much fuss is being taken and all this is quite unnecessary — they do not realize that this is a very sensitive tour and no amount of precaution is enough; the authorities cannot afford to take any chances whatsoever. Some are already asking whether the Pakistan team due to tour India next year will be accorded the same VVIP treatment. Why not; but perhaps we will only know the answer when that tour is undertaken. Some hope that after the six weeks of this right royal reception everywhere in this country the Indian team — a nice happy bunch of normal kids — will easily slip back to normal day to day routine life.

An absorbing and keen contest is on the cards with India wanting to stretch the lead and the Pakistanis wanting the equalizer by pulling this one back. May the better side win; and may the crowd also emerge as the final winner of hearts as those in Karachi.