Standing in front of a distraught dressing room, Pakistan coach Mansoor Rana speaks about the disappointment of missing out on a hattrick of under-19 World Cup titles.

As he looks towards the South African boys, who are still pumping their fists and making the occasional cat call, we ask Rana for some good, neighbourly advice for the Indians before tomorrow’s final. “No instructions, India are a good team. But I just want to tell them to please win the World Cup.”

Rana was the Pakistan coach two years back when his highlycharged wards thrashed India in the final, but the 98 runs loss to South Africa today has left him subdued. Pakistan’s exit has meant the hostilities are over and neighbourly concern has taken over. India’s captain Virat Kohli returns Rana’s compliment, saying: “They shouldn’t have lost. We wanted to play Pakistan in the final.”

On eve of the World Cup final, the love-hate relationship between India and Pakistan was there for all to see.

Heavy rains here have seen a sudden drop in temperature.

The mercury has dropped on the cricketing front as well, South Africa’s entry into the final leaving that dream Indo-Pakistan game just that — a dream.

The Asian expats here will not be divided into camps, nor will they get the pleasure of shouting each other down as they miss a rare chance to get a feel of one of the most-celebrated cricketing rivalries.

And to complete the anti-climax of sorts, there aren’t any sparks flying on the Indo-South African front either. The finalists have been getting along famously since they played a full series last month.

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