World Cup Diary!

* There cannot be a bigger advertisement to the world cup than an India-Pakistan semifinal. The organisers must be having a hearty laugh in their offices.Indian PM invites the Pakistan PM to see the match,Pakistan PM agrees and there is a fresh round of diplomatic talks.People like Shashi Tharoor and Ramachandra Guha have emphasised in various platforms the connect between sport and diplomacy.These moments stand as a stirring proof to the healing power of the Gentleman's game.As an afterthought,why has Wednesday not been declared as a National holiday? When the Prime Minister is watching the game,why should the rest of the country go to work?

* Forget the diplomatic undertones.Cricket-wise, India start as favourites but as written many a times earlier in this space, Pakistan is one team that can never be written off till the last breath.To add fuel ,Pakistan internal minister warns his country players not to indulge in match-fixing. Pakistan team is being cornered once again.It can have extreme consequences.

* I realised the True Scale of Sachinism when I went for the Chennai match against West Indies.Even as Sachin Tendulkar's face came up in the giant screen, a huge roar emanated from the stands.When he got out for a paltry two,the entire crowd was stunned into silence as if Mahatma Gandhi had been murdered once again.For the next half an hour,even Kohli's fours were treated with indifference.

When he was fielding,the spectators in every stand were inviting him to come to their side.When he came near our stand,our entire side stood up in unison chanting S-A-C-H-I-N.Suddenly,the match happening in the middle was forgotten and all we could see and feel was Sachin.Seeing Sachin in flesh and blood feels like a deed accomplished never before. Is Sachin the Most Significant Indian alive?