Historic series too close to call
By CNN's Don Riddell
LONDON, England -- It's often the case with sporting events that the build-up is more exciting than the actual outcome.
It's only too easy to over-hype a big final, talk-up a grudge match or exaggerate the differences between rivals.
To date, Test matches between Pakistan and India have been rather dull; in fact 70 percent of them have ended in draws.
But whatever happens in the coming weeks, I doubt any sports fan will be disappointed.
The historic series has everything going for it. India haven't toured Pakistan for more than 14 years.
And there's been little contact between Indians and Pakistanis since partition in 1947. Lack of contact has fueled the rivalry between the two nuclear powers, but both have one thing in common -- cricket.
Both sides will tell you that the result doesn't really matter. Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says: "What's most important is that cricket makes a contribution to fostering peace and friendship".
That's true, but don't think that 600 million TV viewers are tuning in just to make new friends.
Arch-enemy
Even if the players wanted to concentrate just on the cricket, the fans won't let them. At the Cricket World Cup in 1999, India were received as heroes back home, despite the fact they didn't even make the last eight.
The reason? They'd beaten Pakistan. As for Pakistan, well they were beaten in the final, but some of the players had their houses stoned. For many fans, beating the 'arch-enemy' is all that matters.
On paper, India have the best batsman, Pakistan are more useful with the ball. India proved against Australia that their men can dig in and stay at the crease. Twice they reached more than 500 runs "Down Under," and who can forget their mammoth total of 705 in Steve Waugh's last Test.
In this series though, Pakistan will also fancy their chances of making big totals in the Tests. India's off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be missing, and they'll also be without Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble for the one-dayers.
Their relative strengths would suggest that Pakistan would be favorites for the one-day series, India for the Tests. But Pakistan proved that they were no mugs with recent Test series victories against South Africa at home and in New Zealand.
But frankly, both the limited overs games, and the Test matches are too close to call.
How some of the best players cope under the intense pressure and scrutiny created by the fans and the media will be critical.
Ahead of their meeting at the last World Cup in South Africa, India's captain Sachin Tendulkar admitted to a fortnight of sleepless nights. Right now I suspect those words apply to every member of each squad.
Don Riddell presents World Sport on CNN International at 0930 GMT, 1230 GMT, 1430 GMT, and 2130 GMT daily (also 0030 GMT at weekends and daily in Asia.)
