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India vs Pakistan: Recalling the past!
Adelaide: Teams and players are all set for the biggest match of the World Cup 2015 in which the two subcontinent teams will be taking part i.e India vs Pakistan. In absence of Sachin it would be interesting how Indian team rise to the occasion against a fine Pakistan bowling attack. However, pressure would be on the Pakistan team as they have never ever till now got single win over India since the World Cup started.
The World Cup may start Feb 14 but for the Indian sub-continent the tournament will well and truly begin a day after when defending champions India face traditional rivals Pakistan in a Group B match at the Adelaide Oval.
The two neighbours have a rich history of fierce battles on the cricket ground and each encounter sees partisan feelings rise to a feverish pitch.
While Pakistan enjoy a considerable advantage in the overall One-Day International (ODI) head-to-head count, claiming 72 of the 126 battles, India possess a 5-0 scoreline in the World Cup matches.
The build-up to the tournament has been, expectedly, overshadowed by the expectations of the supporters of the two nations regarding the outcome of the match. For most of them, a victory against the traditional rivals is as good as winning the Cup.
Justifying all the hype, the tickets for the eagerly-awaited contest were sold out in 20 minutes for the 50,000-capacity stadium, with the South Australian government expecting around 20,000 Indian travellers for the marquee clash.
While experts, comprising former players and famous voices of the game, all busy airing their opinion about the high-octane clash, expect it to be the most watched match in the sport’s history, a quick glance at the past World Cup battles reveals some interesting aspects of the coloured rivalry.
1992 – India won by 43 runs
It was the first time that the two nations met at a World Cup match. India, buoyed by a young and emerging Sachin Tendulkar’s fine unbeaten knock of 54 runs, posted 216 and bowled out Pakistan for 173 to register a convincing victory.
1996 – India won by 39 runs
This quarter-final match, played at a packed M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, was keenly-contested. While opener Navjot Singh Sidhu scored an authoritative 93 to set India a strong platform, middle-order batsman Ajay Jadeja put the finishing touches to the innings, blasting a 25-ball 45 — being particularly severe on pacer Waqar Younis — to enable India post a commanding 287 for eight on the board.
Pakistan’s response was aggressive and their openers Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail threatened to take the match away. But a middle-order collapse, triggered by tight slow bowling by spinners Anil Kumble and Venkatpathy Raju, guided India to victory, despite the best efforts of veteran batsmen Javed Miandad and Salim Malik.
1999 – India won by 47 runs
India batted first for the third consecutive Cup game and posted a respectable total of 227 for six wickets. Their total was driven by useful knocks from Tendulkar (45), Rahul Dravid (61) and skipper Mohammed Azharuddin (59). Pakistan’s batting once again let them down, getting dismissed for 180 in 45.3 overs. They crumbled to the pace duo of Venkatesh Prasad (5/27) and Javagal Srinath (3/37).
2003 – India won by 6 wickets
Even batting first couldn’t reverse the tide for Pakistan despite their posting a strong total of 273. Opener Anwar, always a threat to India, hit a fine century (101) but he was eclipsed by graceful hitting from Tendulkar (98) who, together with fellow opener Virender Sehwag (21), launched a stunning attack on the famed pace trio of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis.
Dravid (44 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (unbeaten 50) also played crucial knocks to seal victory with 26 balls to spare.
2011 – India won by 29 runs
Tendulkar (85) again rose to the occasion in a crunch semifinal and helped India to a fighting total of 260 for nine. The home team was well placed to post a superior total but was restricted by left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz (5/46).
Pakistan’s response was typical, a strong start followed by a middle-order failure.
The onus fell on the reliable Misbah-ul-Haq (56) to pull Pakistan through but he ran out of partners and ultimately was the last person to be dismissed.
Indian bowlers collectively put up a superb performance with all five frontliners picking up two wickets each on their way to title glory.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.