David versus Goliath: Pakistani media on India vs Pakistan match

As India and Pakistan are set to lock horns against each other in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 encounter at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday, an unbridled passion has gripped both the players on the field and billions of fans desperately waiting for the game. The hype around the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019’s most awaited game can be understood by the fact that the match is estimated to fetch over 1.5 billion television viewers. For many, the India vs Pakistan match is more than the World Cup final.

While most cricket experts and legends of the game from both the countries are going with India as favourite, some are of the view that given their unpredictable nature of playing, Pakistan can create history by defeating India for the first time in World Cup.

One more thing the India vs Pakistan match brings is the behaviour of the media in both countries. Most TV news channels forget the ethics of reporting and what they do is – carrying the message of the fans. They do less analysis and say directly – “Virat Kohli, you must thrash Pakistan. Sarfraz Khan, this time avenge all the defeats.”

This is how Pakistani media is reporting on India vs Pakistan game

David versus Goliath: One of Pakistan’s finest newspaper Dawn termed the India vs Pakistan game a “David versus Goliath” battle. In the story, Goliath a Philistine giant was defeated by the young David in single combat. In an article “5 points that give hope to Pakistan in David-versus-Goliath clash with India”, the newspaper wrote: India, a true Goliath, a juggernaut, the tormentor in chief and led by arguably the greatest player of this generation. They have won two of their three games and would have won the one they didn't as well, had weather been more facilitating. On the other hand is Pakistan, a feeble, creaking side with just one win in their last three of the World Cup and last 12 ODIs overall. The only side below them on points table are the winless Afghanistan.

Big Pakistan-India clash can save drenched World Cup: GEO TV on its website posted an article terming the India vs Pakistan match a saviour of the drowning ICC World Cup 2019. The article read: “The ICC World Cup 2019 is drowning and needs a rescue act to save it from nonseasonal English rains. That rescue act can take place at Old Trafford on Sunday provided the sport’s biggest rivals – Pakistan and India – are allowed by the weather gods to play a full match in front of a sell-out crowd. A full and hopefully a close match between Pakistan and India will finally provide this World Cup the sort of shot in the arm it has been crying out for in the face of a cold and wet spell that has ruined this ten-nation spectacle.”

Become heroes by beating India: Pakistani TV channel Shama News chose not to write their own opinion and used Pakistan cricket team’s coach Mickey Arthur’s inspirational message to the players ahead of the India game. Quoting Arthur, they wrote: India have won all six previous meetings in World Cups, but Arthur has told his players to rise to the occasion. “It doesn’t get more exciting,” said Arthur on the eve of the match. “I am telling our players in the dressing room, you could be a hero tomorrow. Your careers are going to be defined by a moment in the game. You do something incredible tomorrow, you’ll be remembered forever.”