Pakistan vs India: Celebrities weigh in on clash of the titans
By Zoya Anwer
The countdown to the biggest sports event for Pakistani cricket fans has begun: Pakistan and India face-off at Adelaide Oval in Australia tomorrow. Even four years on, Pakistanis are still reeling from Pakistan's heart-breaking defeat in Mohali in 2011, and are hoping for a vastly different outcome this time.
Losing players like Junaid Khan and Saeed Ajmal earlier was a disappointment for fans who had pinned their hopes to Team Misbah. However with two back-to-back wins against Bangladesh and England in warm-up matches, the notoriously temperamental Pakistani team is keeping spirits up.
We asked six home-grown celebs what they expected from the upcoming match and the World Cup – here, actors Shaan, Fahad Mustafa, Adnan Siddiqui and Sarwat Gilani weigh in on the match’s outcome along with designer Deepak Perwani and models Humaima Malik and Adnan Malik.
1: Will Pakistan win against India on February 15?
Shaan: It will be a game of nerves and whoever controls them will win. The team has a lot of potential so yes, they’ll win.
Fahad Mustafa: Yes, Insha’Allah they’ll win.
Humaima Malik: It will be an emotional match and I don't really want to think about it.
Deepak Perwani: I'm very, very excited, I'll be watching it at 8 am and I will be really happy if they win.
Adnan Malik: It's about time we win because we've never beaten them in a World Cup and the law of averages suggests we should beat them.
Sarwat Gilani: I hope they win.
2: Who's your favourite Pakistani player this time around?
Shaan: Younis Khan
Fahad Mustafa: Shahid Afridi.
Adnan Siddiqui: Ahmad Shehzad and Sohaib Maqsood
Deepak Perwani: Shahid Afridi
Sarwat Gilani: Everyone
3: How far do you think Pakistan will get?
Shaan: Semi-Finals
Adnan Siddiqui: I think we'll reach the quarters at least.
Humaima Malik: The semis. We can only win the cup in the kitchen.
Deepak Perwani: We'll win—we need to aim higher.
Adnan Malik: Maybe the semi-finals.
Sarwat Gillani: I am an optimist so I think we'll win.
4: Your advice for Misbah XI?
Shaan: Play positively, play for the nation—we all are praying for you.
Fahad Mustafa: Play your heart.
Adnan Siddiqui: Play professionally, play a positive game, give your 100 percent and like I have always said, for me effort is more important than winning.
Humaima Malik: Play this time.
Adnan Malik: Play dynamically. Play aggressively.
Sarwat Gillani: Please party less and concentrate on the game.
5: Is Misbahul Haq the right captain to lead the team?
Fahad Mustafa: He is surely the right person.
Adnan Siddiqui: Yes— he is constant, he is mature so definitely.
Humaima Malik: Yes.
Deepak Perwani: Yes.
Adnan Malik: Yes.
Sarwat Gillani: Sure, I hope he is a team leader.
6: Should Afridi resign after the World Cup?
Shaan: He has already announced it and I think it is a good announcement. He should perform his best like Imran Khan did, given that he has given his 19 years with almost 400 ODIs. The time and platform both are right and he should now give his place to youngsters.
Fahad Mustafa: Yes.
Adnan Siddiqui: Yes because this will be the right platform for him given that he is at the peak.
Humaima Malik: What will be left behind if he resigns?
Deepak Perwani: Didn't he announce this five times last year? His resignation is more like 'sher aya, sher aya'.
Adnan Malik: I don't think he needs to, it depends on his performance and fitness.
7: Which player on the Pakistani team will surprise us?
Shaan: Haris Sohail, Omer Akmal and Yasir Shah.
Fahad Mustafa: Sohaib Maqsood
Adnan Siddiqui: Ahmed Shehzad and Sohaib Maqsood.
Humaima Malik: I am not expecting anything.
Deepak Perwani: Sohaib Maqsood
8: How do you plan to watch Pakistan's matches?
Fahad Mustafa: I'll be hosting a transmission so it’s going to be really exciting.
Adnan Siddiqui: I am an early riser so all the better, I'll be watching the game with family and friends.
Humaima Malik: I have a huge family so I'll be at home.
Deepak Perwani: On a big screen, drinks in the garden with friends.
Adnan Malik: At home with family and friends.
Sarwat Gillani: Screening with family and friends.
Design: Ema Anis