Tattle before the battle

As is the case before any high profile clash in this part of the world,the party atmosphere in Chandigarh is sky high.

Tickets more expensive than Nehra!

As is the case before any high profile clash in this part of the world,the party atmosphere in Chandigarh is sky high. Many such parties in the city though,have been thrown with the money earned from selling the tickets of the upcoming India-Pakistan match. According to the vigil police force,tickets worth Rs 100 were being sold at as much as Rs 25,000. While the price-range of the tickets has sent rumour mills buzzing in the city,the black-market trade has hit the roof,with passes going for as much as Rs 150,000. The Rs 10,000 variety,according to those in the know,has crossed the six-digit mark. If the match does witness the completion of all 100 overs,then the big money spenders those above 1 lakh would have spent close to Rs 200 per ball. Even Ashish Nehra wasnt so expensive in that last over against South Africa.

Umar breaches border

One of Punjabs biggest tourist attractions is the Wagah Border,an hours drive away from Amritsar. But on Sunday,the border shifted cities into the PCA Stadium in Mohali. With a narrow water pipe one that feeds the pitch its due course of water dividing the stadium into two halves,the patrolling policemen ensured that the Wagah remains true to its name,forcing Pakistan to practice on the northern arc from morning to afternoon,and India on the southern front during their evening training. Umar Akmal though,a batsman with no boundaries,crossed over several times during practice,forcing one of the security men to blurt out aloud,He has breached the border alright,but on Wednesday they will be forced to return back and over.

Gloves are off8230; and on

If there were any doubts over whether an India-Pakistan game was the equivalent of a Fight Night,then it was laid it to rest during practice on Sunday. With a boxing glove strapped around his left hand instead of the usual wicket keeping one or a baseball mitten a member of Pakistans support staff entered the nets area to deliver the customary throw downs at his batsmen. As Misbah ul Haq and Abdur Rehman punched off the backfoot to the rising deliveries,the trainer punched right back,blocking the returning leather with short-arm jabs. Whether Pakistan wins or loses this highly anticipated clash,one thing is for sure,their side is well prepared for the games format at this stage of the World Cup a knock-out.

Bhajjis special fan

When Harbhajan Singh takes the field against Pakistan in the semifinal on Wednesday,his long-time coach and Dronacharya awardee Desh Prem Azad will be watching from the Punjab Cricket Association stadium. Harbhajans first came under the tutelage of Azad,whose most famous ward remains Kapil Dev,as a 14-year-old at the Pace Bowlers Academy in Chandigarh. Azad believes that Harbhajans role in India reaching the semi-final cannot be undermined. Harbhajan might have not picked many wickets,but he has been economical. Sometimes,it happens that you do not get wickets at the start of a tournament, Azad said. The coach is confident that the game against Pakistan will see Harbhajan at his best. Harbhajan loves playing against Australia and Pakistan. He might have not shown the kind of aggression expected from him on the field but he will definitely raise his game on this big occasion, Azad added. Its been 28 years since Kapil Dev led India to the World Cup win but Azad is confident that India and Harbhajan can pull it off this time.

Alams day out

The Pakistani manager Intikhab Alam needed neither a local guide nor the local map to check out places in Chandigarh. Having stayed in the city for more than two years when he coached the Punjab Ranji side,Alam,with his wife in tow,headed out shopping in Sector 17. Alam felt almost as if he was back home and nothing had changed in this city. The popular suit and fabric showroom was the couples first stop. Alam picked up a suit length and then headed to a well-known tailor shop. The couple,fans of folk singer Surinder Kaur and Mohammed Rafi,picked up music CDs. Alams wife wanted to buy a salwar-kameez from a shop she used to frequent earlier,but she was disappointed when she was told that the shop had closed down.