Johannesburg – They say that dreams that come visiting in the day are a tad more dangerous that their nocturnal counterparts, but this one – an India-Pakistan final in an ICC event such as the ICC World Twenty20 here – has been beautiful from the time it started looming in the horizon.

"The whole world will sit up and watch this game," Indian vice-captain Yuvraj Singh on Saturday night after his team tamed Australia in a nerve-wracking encounter in Durban. "There is nothing bigger than this – a Cup final featuring India and Pakistan. The teams have been playing good cricket and that should be a cracker of a game."

Winning two Man of the Match awards, he has been among those who have made the dream come true. Come of think of it, each of India's matches has provided plenty of thrills to those watching. A rained off match against Scotland was a poor start but the young team hit the ground running, forcing a tie against Pakistan in the league game and then winning the bowl out 3-0.

A 10-run loss to New Zealand in the Super Eights left it facing elimination but the team bounded back with enthusiasm and self-belief to secure fantastic victories over England, South Africa and Australia to make its way to the final. At different times, a number of heroes have lent their shoulder to the wheel to get India through.

Pakistan remains the only unbeaten side in the tournament, having defeated Scotland, tied with India – should we count the 3-0 bowl out verdict as a loss? – and then topping its Super Eight group with victories over sides like Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It has scripted its wins on some fine shows by its middle-order batsmen and the bowlers.

Mohammed Asif was a little rusty in the opening game but ever since he scalped an Indian wicket in each of his four overs, he has been leading the attack with panache. Umar Gul has come into his own while Shahid Afridi's brand of leg-spin has earned him heaps of wickets at critical times.

There is so little to choose between the two teams in terms of their intensity and passion but if anything can make a slight difference on paper, it will be Pakistan's opening worries. India's bowlers have got on top once they have found their way past the top order batsmen and can be expected to do likewise, making it tough for the middle order batsmen led by Shoaib Malik.

The opening contest between the two teams set the tone for a tournament that has held the attention of cricket fans, converting many skeptics in India. One more breathtaking contest – and we can all breathe again. Someone tell me I am living a dream.

The teams:

Pakistan (from): Shoaib Malik (captain), Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir. Salman Butt, Yasir Arafat, Abdur Rehman and Rao Iftikhar Anjum,

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain and wicket-keeper), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehewag, Robin Uthaappa, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Joginder Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, RP Singh, Dinesh Karthik, Ajit Agarkar, Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla.

Umpires: Ranjan Madugalle (match referee), Mark Benson and Simon Taufel, Daryl Harper (third), Billy Doctrove (fourth).

Johannesburg – They say that dreams that come visiting in the day are a tad more dangerous that their nocturnal counterparts, but this one – an India-Pakistan final in an ICC event such as the ICC World Twenty20 here – has been beautiful from the time it started looming in the horizon.

"The whole world will sit up and watch this game," Indian vice-captain Yuvraj Singh on Saturday night after his team tamed Australia in a nerve-wracking encounter in Durban. "There is nothing bigger than this – a Cup final featuring India and Pakistan. The teams have been playing good cricket and that should be a cracker of a game."

Winning two Man of the Match awards, he has been among those who have made the dream come true. Come of think of it, each of India's matches has provided plenty of thrills to those watching. A rained off match against Scotland was a poor start but the young team hit the ground running, forcing a tie against Pakistan in the league game and then winning the bowl out 3-0.

A 10-run loss to New Zealand in the Super Eights left it facing elimination but the team bounded back with enthusiasm and self-belief to secure fantastic victories over England, South Africa and Australia to make its way to the final. At different times, a number of heroes have lent their shoulder to the wheel to get India through.

Pakistan remains the only unbeaten side in the tournament, having defeated Scotland, tied with India – should we count the 3-0 bowl out verdict as a loss? – and then topping its Super Eight group with victories over sides like Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It has scripted its wins on some fine shows by its middle-order batsmen and the bowlers.

Mohammed Asif was a little rusty in the opening game but ever since he scalped an Indian wicket in each of his four overs, he has been leading the attack with panache. Umar Gul has come into his own while Shahid Afridi's brand of leg-spin has earned him heaps of wickets at critical times.

There is so little to choose between the two teams in terms of their intensity and passion but if anything can make a slight difference on paper, it will be Pakistan's opening worries. India's bowlers have got on top once they have found their way past the top order batsmen and can be expected to do likewise, making it tough for the middle order batsmen led by Shoaib Malik.

The opening contest between the two teams set the tone for a tournament that has held the attention of cricket fans, converting many skeptics in India. One more breathtaking contest – and we can all breathe again. Someone tell me I am living a dream.

The teams:

Pakistan (from): Shoaib Malik (captain), Imran Nazir, Mohammad Hafeez, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir. Salman Butt, Yasir Arafat, Abdur Rehman and Rao Iftikhar Anjum,

India (from): Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain and wicket-keeper), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehewag, Robin Uthaappa, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Joginder Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, RP Singh, Dinesh Karthik, Ajit Agarkar, Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla.

Umpires: Ranjan Madugalle (match referee), Mark Benson and Simon Taufel, Daryl Harper (third), Billy Doctrove (fourth).