Howdy Cricket Lovers!!

The wait is finally over and the most anticipated match of the tournament is just about to begin. The weather in New York has just delayed the intensity a bit but it hasn't lowered it at all! Withe the high octane nature of this game, I would love see intesity in the comment box from all of you. Thanks for joining in the live Blog.

Here's a little contect to the game from the centre stge...

Not many spectacles can capture the imagination of nearly a billion people at the same time. An India vs Pakistan cricket match is one of those few things that unfailingly does so every single time. After all the anticipation and build-up, it is nearly time for cricket's greatest rivalry. A provisional venue in an unfamiliar country for cricket is at the centre-stage as another chapter of this great scuffle awaits to be filled in. Emotions, sentiments and ecstacy aside, there's still an important cricket match to be played. The last time these two sides met in a T20 World Cup was in that fabled game at Melbourne where Virat Kohli struck possibly the most famous six off Haris Rauf - "Kohli goes down the ground, Kohli goes out of the ground!", words that are undoubtedly etched in the minds of all Indian fans.

That was two years ago, so what do we have in store today? The ever mercurial side that they are, Pakistan come into this game having shown little promise. After suffering arguably what was their worst upset yet in World Cups at the hands of USA in their previous game, Pakistan are already under pressure to perform, the identity of the opposition notwithstanding, if they want to make it out of the group stage. And when that opponent is India, the pressure just manifolds. In that game against the USA, they looked scattered and dazed. Today, Pakistan have a lot more than their pride at stake and their fans will be hoping it helps bring out the best in them.

Toss Update -Toss Update -

Pakistan have won the toss and have opted to field

Pitch Report -Pitch Report -

"The pitch is much better today," Ravi Shastri told Cricbuzz after conducting the toss for the Canada vs Ireland game on Friday. He was right - the match saw a much better balanced contest between bat and ball than in the recent past. As earlier reported by this website, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is making sure the match would not be a low-scoring farce because of the dangerous nature of the surface.

For the first time ever perhaps, the pitch has garnered more attention ahead of an India-Pakistan game. Typically, the focus would be on the intense rivalry, individual match-ups, and whether Pakistan can break the Indian stranglehold in World Cups. But with Pakistan's high voltage pace battery - featuring Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf - expected to be in action on Sunday, concerns about the pitch's behavior, or misbehaviour, are heightened.

Thanks to everyone for your consistent support for the live blog....