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Sajid Khan
Yeh Dil Maange Four
Yup, the fever has caught on. And I'm not talking about the viral fever which has engulfed the city. But the spiral fever which has engulfed the entire nation -- the World Cup fever.
The World Cup which commences on May 14, 1999, exactly a week from today, will have an entire nation watching TV endlessly, every day. Daily lives will be affected, streets will be empty and the city will look beautiful.
Art and entertainment will suffer a major setback. The film industry is worrying whether movies should be released during this period or not. And many satellite channels are already reprogramming their older software which they will be telecasting in place of new and expensive software. You see, everyone will be watching only ESPN and Star Sports. And probably DD. (But since the cable reception of DD is not good every cable operator who knows that his customer is watching DD will sing just one song: `DD tera viewer deewana'.)
Every ad you see is aboutcricket. Every car, cola, washing powder or biscuit wants you to either drive, drink, wash or eat their product and go to the World Cup. Every music video has new, unknown (but such is the case with most music videos) and some known singers, screeching (putting it mildly) `Good luck, India" or `All the best, India' and they want you to buy their cassette. In short, expectations from India are sky high.
So, can the Indian team really win the cup? My heart (sacha Hindustani hoon) says yes but my brain (made in Malaysia, with a three-year warranty) says no. My list for the teams that will probably make it to the finals are: South Africa, Australia and England. Two of these three teams will make it to the finals very comfortably. Why?
1. Because South Africa is arguably the best team in the world. They are in top form, are capable of making huge scores and have the capacity to defend a mere 200 runs like it were 250 runs.
2. Because Australia has the killer instinct with top class killer bowling fromMcGrath, Fleming and Shane Warne. And they are a team that can chase any total without changing their expression. Not to forget that they almost won the Cup the last time.
3. Because England in England with their home crowd cheering them will be difficult to beat. They are after all playing in their own backyard.
India's chances of winning the World Cup are like my wallet -- slim. But if wishes were horses then I'd be Mahalaxmi Race Course. I still like to believe, no, let's correct that, I know India can win because the Indian team has the one true champion in the world, the greatest batsman ever, the genuine national treasure of ours: Sachin Tendulkar. If he gets going then no team in the world, be it South Africa, Australia or England can stop him. But again getting back to the wishes, horses and Race Course thing, expecting Sachin to work in every match is a bit too much. It is genuinely a case of one man against 11 men. But miracles do happen.
So let's wait my friends and see what happens. I praythat India wins but I know that the World Cup will go to South Africa, England or Australia.
Let's see next month if I was right or wrong in my predictions (I know I am right). So, don't be too surprised when any one the Indian players gets out and the umpire signals a square shape with his hands. We think he is asking for the third umpire when actually he is telling the organisers, `Inka luggage taiyyar karo'.
Sajid Khan says if you see India losing then just switch on to the new Lashkara channel.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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