It's taken 23 years to get so close. After England carried Pakistan into the semi-finals of the Twenty20 World Cup, Team India fans will have a prayer on their lips as they hope for an Indian and an Australian win in the final two games of the Super Eight stage on Tuesday. It was way back in 1987 that India, Pakistan, England and Australia made it to the semi-finals of the Prudential World Cup. The four have never ever made it together to the last four stage since and one can only imagine the euphoria if the most talked about rivalries in international cricket come together for a grand finale.

The similarities don't end here. Just like the semi-final lineup in 1987, Group F toppers Australia will play Pakistan in the semi-final. And if England play India the matchup would be carbon copy complete. In 1987, every hotel room in Kolkata had been booked in anticipation of a India-Pakistan clash. But alas, it was not to be. Australia beat Pakistan and England beat India, before Allan Border's side eventually lifted its first World Cup title. And now the Michael Clarke-led Australian team is gunning for its first Twenty20 World Cup title.

The inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 was a roaring success after India and Pakistan contested the final. Not only is there a chance of a repeat of that game, there is also a strong possibility that Australia and England, cricket's traditional rivals in the oldest form of the game, slog it out in the finals of the shortest format of the game. So will it be a 'Ashes final' or a 'sub-continental final' at the Kensington Oval on May 16, for the time being the fingers remain crossed.