More sweet than bitter

The guys are...what8217;s the word...yeah, 8216;geed-up8217; for the clash.8221; An India-Pakistan cricket match had never struggled for the right words before.

The guys are8230;what8217;s the word8230;yeah, 8216;geed-up8217; for the clash.8221; An India-Pakistan cricket match had never struggled for the right words before. Arch, bitter, caustic were just the starting ABCs of cricket8217;s most famous rivalry. Descriptions could go into the last alphabet and often cross the final threshold of civility.

Gary Kirsten isn8217;t an inarticulate man by any stretch of imagination. He voiced his thoughts clearly the very next instant after his fingers searched the air and came up with 8216;geed-up8217;, reiterating that his boys were motivated for what promises to be a great game on Tuesday. Yet, a day before the two face off in India8217;s opening game of the tri-series in Dhaka, the coach was urging his listeners to believe that he wasn8217;t concerned about the intensity levels when India and Pakistan now meet.

But far more interesting than how spectators and the media perceive the new post-IPL Indo-Pak equations, would be how the players themselves feel about the much-bandied rivalry. Frequent-flying from across the border 8212; since the standing ovation Pakistan got at Chennai, and the gushing reception Indians were given when they crossed over to Pakistan in 2004 8212; has softened the contest over the years. But after 44 days of shared dressing rooms in the IPL 8212; that is a lot of struggle, banter, meals, success and failure together 8212; the rivalry would have faded further.

Of course, either set of players would hate to lose on Tuesday, but for better or worse, the IPL has lent inter-nations cricket a cordial atmosphere.

It is unlikely now that Shahid Afridi will take personal affront to a Rohit Sharma big-hit and hiss out a few nasty nothings. Having watched Sharma 8212; from the same dugout, mind you 8212; slam other players, there would be silent respect for a prodigious junior. And vice-versa. Now, that8217;s just the tip of the nice-berg.

Yusuf Pathan and Sohail Tanvir became thick buddies 8212; both reveling in each other8217;s successes as the Rajasthan Royals strengthened their garrison 8212; and it would be too much to expect them both to get into a verbal scrap, if things heat up. On the IPL planet, familiarity breeds fondness. Sure, members from both sides have played alongside each other on various Asian XI teams prior to the IPL and as Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson shrugged a rare Aussie shrug in admitting that 8220;the two of them always got along very well8221;, but the IPL bonhomie would have multiplied the friendliness.

8220;I8217;d told them before they left for the IPL that they need to learn from international opponents while sharing dressing rooms. I8217;m sure they8217;ve made some solid friends,8221; Lawson said, though cautioning that an Indo-Pak affair was a far more serious matter than any other contest. The Australian coach expected it to be a close game with pride, reputation and Pakistan8217;s 12-match winning streak at stake.

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On the other hand, Yusuf Pathan would be the most sought-after man as India8217;s young team 8212; minus the big-three to mentor or rush to for advice 8212; look to work out Tanvir8217;s odd action.

Sehwag doubtful

Plotting together would have also meant that Praveen Kumar could take his bowlers over Misbah8217;s batting traits. Ditto for Shoaib Malik, who would have watched Sehwag doubtful starter due to a cold and Gambhir from close quarters and marked out his plans.

Traded secrets 8212; from IPL to international cricket 8212; will be an interesting facet to watch on Tuesday. But more felt will be the keenness of the rivalry that has enlivened years of cricket. The rawness may have worn off, it8217;s the IPL-ripened calculations that will make Indo-Pak cricket a board of chess.