CHANDIGARH, Jan 14: As cricket fever took over on Friday, archrivals turned-friends India and Pakistan will come to a standstill. Apart from zillion cricket lovers watching from the stadia and on TV, a very special group of sportsmen were praying for Pakistan from Chandigarh as India kicked off its Pakistan tour.

Pakistani hockey players here for Premier Hockey League, and like any other cricket fan, they are hoping for success of their team.

At the same time, these professional sportspersons are ardent admirers of Team India as well.

Rehan Butt, Pakistani ace, who excels on the turf against India all the time, said, “Your Sachin Tendulkar and our Kamran Akmal will be players to watch out for in this series. Dono mein zabardast josh hai.”

About basis of his prediction, he said, “Sachin always performs against Pakistan and Kamran has gained a lot of confidence after scoring two hundreds against England recently. However, whichever team plays without pressure will come out the winner.”

Rehan, a hardcore competitor, added, “Pakistani bowlers will have an edge over Indian batsman because of a resurgent Shoaib Akhtar, who will surely tilt the balance in Pakistan’s favour.”

Another Pakistani ace, Imran Warsi said the more united tem would clinch the series. “The last time when India came to Pakistan, they were more united.

“Unity in the team is very necessary,” Warsi said, adding he would follow the series very closely. “The combination of Inzamamul Haq and Shoaib Akhtar is deadly.

“Indian and Pakistani cricket and hockey players, if united, are unbeatable in the world.” said Shakeel Abbasi, “I will somehow find a way to watch cricket.”

Mercurial Pakistan mid-fielder Mohammad Saqlain said, “I am a hardcore cricket fan. Both India and Pakistan are good but whichever side plays ‘as a team’ has a better chance of winning.”—Agencies