This Saturday is unlike other weekends that have come to pass or shall come to pass recently. Over a billion fans (with a capital 'B') on both sides of the Radcliff line are gearing up for what will be the most anticipated spectacle of sport between two sides, as top-ranked India takes on second-seed Pakistan in the biggest match of the Cricket World Cup (some would argue even bigger than the final itself).
While every team and every player will go through their individual set of customs and rituals to prepare for the match, fans, too, are making their plans. One thing is certain: the fates of both these sides will be decided in the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India.
Pakistan is coming off a hard-fought, record-breaking victory against Sri Lanka. That match should serve as a tonic for the side before they take on their traditional rivals in arguably the sport's biggest game.
More than a tonic, it should serve as a blueprint vis-à-vis areas where the Pakistan team can improve to defeat their much tougher traditional foes in their prime minister's backyard.
In the match against Sri Lankans earlier in the week, Pakistan's bowling demonstrated that there were still a few chinks in their armour.
This tinkered attack, forced through injury, continues to struggle. For example, Shadab Khan still does not seem like a one-day wicket-taking spinner. In my opinion, he never was one.
Against Sri Lankans, he was like a pack of coffee beans spread all over the floor, basically very messy and not very efficient. These are the kind of beans which don't make for great cappuccinos.
The line and lengths of his deliveries were all over the place. Even the ball with which he got the wicket of Pathum Nissanka did not deserve that reward. It was short and deserved to be dispatched to the boundary.
Ideally, leg spinners enjoy getting batters cleaned up, bamboozling the batter with the flight of the ball, the spin it catches after gripping the rough of the pitch and the added sweetness of unusual bounce and pace to send their bails flying, or trapping their victim plumb before the wicket. Lesser favourites are miscued shots resulting in leading edges safely caught behind or caught in the deep because all those forms of dismissals mean a deception by the bowler in the air.
However, to get a batsman caught in the point area means the bowler got plain lucky off an unforced error on the part of the batsman. While Shadab Khan will take the confidence of adding a wicket to his tally, if I were the Pakistan team captain, I would be looking to involve someone like Usman Mir into the mix soon.
Hence, when playing against India, the Green Shirts must be brave and pick up Usama Mir, a genuine wicket-taking leg spinner.
In 50-overs, he could be the ideal opener because the format allows him sufficient time to establish himself at the crease without too much pressure
Another bothersome area is the opening slot. Pakistan has two left-handed batsmen opening the innings. But both have been devoid of form lately. Abdullah Shafique filled in beautifully against the Lankans. He was stylish, fluent and weaved together an innings full of joy de vivre.
The other opener, Imamul Haq, is woefully out of form. Hence, the question arises: should Babar Azam be courageous and bring back Fakhar Zaman?
My answer would be yes; why not take a chance with Fakhar? Our only double-century maker is also out of form, but he has got the 'X' factor and is certainly worth taking a chance with against the Indians. Also, one can hope that dropping him for the Sri Lanka match would have jolted him enough to put more effort into his batting.
The other scenario is that Babar Azam opens the innings himself, as he does happily and regularly in the shorter format of the game, the Twenty20s (T20).
Given his talents, Babar Azam should not be opening innings in T20s because, in my opinion, his Strike Rate is not good enough. But in 50-overs, he could be the ideal opener because the format allows him sufficient time to establish himself at the crease without too much pressure.
If he decides to open the innings, it will free a slot in the team, which could give Babar Azam the opportunity to include a winning option such as an additional, genuine spinner or an extra batter. Basically, like our phones, it would free up clogged space.
I am trying to justify here that you can be expensive on these pitches, but you have to damage the opponents by getting at least two wickets, if not more
Such a decision could make for fabulous, out-of-the-box thinking that could grant the team an edge over India. But to make such a decision, Babar would have to borrow my brain. Frankly, I would be honoured to lend it to him if it would mean we witness some refreshing think-tank at work.
However, if the Pakistan captain proves he is a horses-for-courses man, he could make two changes: first, he would open himself and play Usama in the middle. It could prove to be a formula for Pakistan winning the big game. Bravery often leads to change in fortunes, but it remains to be seen if a mere mortal can rise to the podium of being a skipper.
Other than moving the pawns in the right direction, another factor will play a major role in our lovely sport: “Conditions.”
The wickets in India are mostly flat. If the fast bowlers are being regularly dispatched for 60-65 runs, that is not a worrying factor for me as long as they are picking up wickets regularly, which is frankly extremely important.
In the match against Sri Lanka, Hasan Ali was smashed for around 7.1 runs per over in his ten-over spell. But what made him valuable in the match was the four valuable wickets. Haris 'Bullettrain' Rauf went for a more economical 6.40 runs per over, but he picked up two crucial wickets in some excellent death-over bowling on flat tracks.
However, giving around 70 runs and picking up just a single wicket is not good enough. Remember, cricket is a game of fine margins!
I am trying to justify here that you can be expensive on these pitches, but you have to damage the opponents by getting at least two wickets, if not more.
Bowling is largely dependent on the lengths the bowlers bowl. And against an opponent like India, our bowlers must bowl at the "Anderson length" and aim for leg-before, clean-bowled, and caught behind. If in that process, they go for some runs, so be it.
As far as batting is concerned, the top six are always the key, but if current is an indicator, then Muhammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel and Abdullah Shafique have to come to the party with others playing around them.
Once again, Rizwan would have to reprise the same bravado he displayed against the Lankans. If he can manage that, his name could be etched with gold thread in cricket folklore.
Last but not least, Pakistanis in the field must be razor-sharp, and the catching must be spot-on.
Remember, wise people make cliches, so catches do win matches and missed chances mean regret and pathos.
I wish the Men in Green the best of luck in Ahmedabad.