ISLAMABAD: The legendary Pakistan-India cricket rivalry came to a head as the most awaited group match of the World Cup between the two arch-rivals kicked off on Sunday.

Ahead of the sporting showdown, some emotional Pakistanis allayed their anxiety-ridden friends. A few tried to control their sentiments and said it was “just a game,” but for others, the match is much more than that. It’s war.

One cricket fan cried in jest, “We won’t let them take the world cup, just a tea-cup!”

The atmosphere was both tense and festive as Arab News visited some of the venues in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, where cricket fans congregated to watch the game on life-sized screens in public places and restaurants.