Countdown over as India and Pakistan begin contest

MOHALI, India: The tense buildup to what has been billed as “the mother of all World Cup matches” came to a spine-tingling climax on Wednesday when Sachin Tendulkar strode out to bat for India with Virender Sehwag.Hundreds of people moved into their seats as soon as the gates opened, four hours before the blockbuster semifinal between archrivals India and Pakistan. The match was sold out last week, but incredibly there were still a few ticket-holders missing as the match began.Tendulkar, seeking his 100th international century, and Sehwag were greeted by a tumultuous roar as they walked out onto the pitch at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.Watching them was a host of Bollywood superstars, dignitaries and high-ranking politicians — including the Prime Ministers of both countries in what is being seen as a possible first step toward improved diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.Indian premier Manmohan Singh and Pakistan counterpart Yousuf Gilani were warmly cheered by the crowd as they walked onto the pitch following the national anthems.Singh shook hands with the Pakistan players before Gilani, while the roles were reversed as the pair met the India team.With the two premiers in attendance, security was inevitably tighter than at any other match. Roads around the fortified stadium were closed, and anyone entering the ground had to negotiate several checks, with bags being meticulously searched for any dangerous or suspicious objects.Police and soldiers on horse back and armored vehicles patrolled around the stadium, where a crush of fans had gathered ahead of the match.The sporting rivalry between the nations is as intense as any, but the match took on an added political significance when Gilani accepted Singh’s invitation to watch with him.“I am going there to show solidarity with our team, with their team and to promote cricket,” Gilani said.While the historic meeting occurs in the VIP box at the PCA Stadium, the sellout crowd of 28,000 will have their eyes trained on the pitch, most of those eagerly hoping national sporting icon Tendulkar can score a century.Tendulkar, whose face adorns posters across the city, was dismissed for 99 by fast bowler Umar Gul in his last match against Pakistan at Mohali in 2007.India defeated Australia to set up the showdown with Pakistan and prompt a desperate scramble for tickets. The match has been sold out for more than a week but that didn’t stop people queuing at the ticket office in the days before the match, hoping that more seats might be released.On the black market, tickets reportedly fetched up to 100 times their face value.Those who weren’t fortunate enough to get their hands on a ticket watched on big screens set up around nearby Chandigarh, which came to a standstill for the game.Police have also relaxed a ruling banning people living near the ground from climbing on their roofs to get a birds-eye view.Businesses across the country shut down for the afternoon — in the knowledge that productivity would undoubtedly drop to zero anyway.The government decreed a half day in Pakistan, meaning work stopped at noon so that people could watch the match.