The Rawalpindi Express is on track

As I pen this article the itinerary for the much awaited series between Pakistan and India is being announced.

Speculation over the past few weeks has suggested that various concerns have placed the tour in jeopardy, so now it is on and that is great news.

Even further good news is that SuperSport will be broadcasting the series ball by ball. It promises to be the most watched series for some time.

The tension that has engulfed the two countries for decades off the park will add spice to the encounter but on the field there will be many mouth-watering match ups - the most exciting being Shoaib Akhtar versus Sachin Tendulkar.

Just imagine how many viewers around the globe will be glued to their television sets in all manner of environments as the two players square up.

In some places, notably in the sub-continent, nations will be brought to a stand still.

While I was in Pakistan for South Africa’s tour in October last year, I spent a lot of time with Shoaib both during and after hours - the latter being another story!

It was noticeable then that whenever our thoughts turned to cricket his eyes lit up as he anticipated his duel Sachin.

Even at that early stage he employed a personal trainer to ensure that he would be in peak physical shape for the series.

I watched him go through his paces one morning and believe me, he was ‘working like a cut snake’!

Even though there is a cordial relationship between the players from both teams the hype of the series will definitely add an extra aggressive dimension… and that could be right up Shoaib’s alley.

‘The Rawalpindi Express’ trying to derail ‘The Little Master’ is action that won’t be missed by me… and I suggest, neither by you.