Arch-rivals to clash in Champions Trophy Today

New Delhi : India vs Pakistan is a different kettle of fish. Nerves can get to you and can also get the best out of you. The head-to-head in England suggests the same - one win each in two ODIs. With a semi-final in the kitty, the Indians are expected to play freely and Pakistan with a grudge a perfect recipe for the fans to sit back and enjoy crickets biggest rivalry.

With the two sub-continental rivals set to face-off each other here on Saturday in a Champions Trophy match, both the captains agreed on the changing face of Indo-Pak contests.The Dhoni brigade, currently one of the front-runners to lift the Trophy this year - will be up against their arch-rivals Pakistan today. Team Indias neighbours have had a rather disappointing tournament than one would have expected.

After losing both their matches in Group B, Pakistan have been eliminated from the tournament and are sitting at a shambolic fourth spot in points table. With nothing but pride to play for, Misbahs men will try to resurrect their image with a win over their traditional foe. When the Champions Trophy tickets went online for sale in April this year, it took all of 30 minutes for the allocated tickets to be lapped up. The insatiable demand from Indian and Pakistani fans will mean tomorrows game will be more than a dead rubber.

The agony of crashing out of the Champions Trophy after two horrible performances against West Indies and South Africa will be instantly forgotten if Pakistan can beat India, the reigning World Cup champions and the No. 1 ODI team according to the ICC. But, India  have been at the receiving end against Pakistan as far as the clashes in the Champions trophy are concerned. Pakistan never lost to India in six editions of this event.