London, March 27 : The Daily Telegraph's perceptive columnist Scyld Berry writes: "It is strange, on the surface, that what is sure to be the most widely watched cricket match of all time – and the one most gambled on, legally and otherwise – will take place at the Indian international venue with the smallest capacity, of less than 30,000 seats. Not Kolkata, which is three times bigger, or Chennai, but Mohali.
"The explanation comes in two words: Bindra Sahib. The power behind the throne of world cricket and Indian cricket is Inderjit Singh Bindra, who created the Mohali stadium as his personal fiefdom after his family – Sikh – had been forced to flee Lahore at Partition.
"But while Bindra Sahib will deftly sort out the enormous quantity of VIPs who will descend on his stadium on the outskirts of Chandigarh, not to mention that subcontinental speciality the VVIPs, the ground will not be so suited to the Indian team – because it is the most northerly in this World Cup, and the least Asian.
"Mohali is the only pitch in Asia which regularly has some pace and bounce, although Chennai does occasionally. If Australia had won their quarter-final at the predictable slow turner in Ahmedabad, Mohali would have suited their pace attack. Not India though, as they have three good spinners, but not three good seamers.
"Zaheer Khan is head and shoulders above India's other pace bowlers. Munaf Patel has all the physical equipment to be a second Glenn McGrath but is psychologically fragile, as Brad Haddin was the latest to prove when he went after Patel in the quarter-final. Ashish Nehra is erratic – and cannot bat, like Patel – while Sreesanth skids on to the bat.
"Fortunately for the hosts, Pakistan have exactly the same mixture: three good spinners but not three good seamers. Umar Gul stands out, like Zaheer; otherwise all they have for pace – in the absence of the banned Mohammed.
"Aamer and Mohammed Asif – is Shoaib Akhtar, who has finally announced his retirement and whose last over went for 28; Wahab Riaz, a pacey but wayward left-armer; and a novice left-armer Junaid Khan who hasn't played an international.
"Assuming this weakness in one team cancels out the weakness in the other, India's superior batting should prevail. They have some great batsmen, Pakistan good batsmen. But the number of Indian supporters in the ground will be limited, and – being close in every sense to Lahore - it is the nearest Pakistan will come to a home match in a long while", concludes Scyld Berry.
