Mumbai: As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 draws nearer, cricket enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the legendary clash between India and Pakistan, dubbed the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ in sports history. Scheduled for June 9th, 2024, this highly anticipated match will be broadcast LIVE and exclusively on the Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar. In preparation for the thrilling showdown between these arch-rivals, the Star Sports Network unveils its promo, reintroducing the iconic ‘Mauka Mauka’ characters that have consistently mesmerized fans whenever these two teams face off on the cricket field.
The latest edition of the ‘Mauka’ campaign, crafted and conceived by the in-house team of Disney Star, aims to capture the playful banter between two fervent fans – Ratan, representing India, and Altaf, representing Pakistan. The campaign showcases how their lighthearted rivalry has unfolded over the years, highlighting memorable moments such as Ratan wearing a sleeveless Dhoni jersey to celebrate India’s 2007 World Cup triumph and presenting a sledgehammer after Pakistan’s defeat in 2012. These gestures humorously illustrate India’s dominance in ICC events. However, Pakistan’s historic victory over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup added a significant twist to their rivalry, making the upcoming encounter a spectacle for fans worldwide.
The film is aimed at casual fans of the sport who tune in for major events, and few events are bigger than India vs Pakistan at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In addition to the film, the broadcaster will utilize other in-house platforms, both linear and digital, to amplify excitement around the highly anticipated ‘Greatest Rivalry’.
Speaking at the launch of India vs Pakistan promo film by Star Sports, Misbah Ul Haq said, “The thing in World Cups is that India has something special, that no matter how well Pakistan performs and play and however great our team is, in the World Cup, India always win. The previous records suggest that Pakistan has performed better in World Cups against all teams but has only won once versus India at the World Cups, which happened in Dubai.”
Speaking at the launch of India vs Pakistan promo film by Star Sports, Harbhajan Singh said, “It’s such a great feeling that you would dream of, to get the World Cup trophy in our hands. Even if it was the T20 format, it was the first time, and when you get it in your hands, the feeling is something else. There are some moments in your life that define you, and there was no greater feeling than that World Cup trophy being in our hands. I thank Misbah also because if he didn’t get out, we wouldn’t win!”
The campaign film highlights the unmatched cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan, portraying it as an intense battle between two proud cricketing nations, earning it the title of the “Greatest Rivalry.” With high stakes involved, there’s plenty of off-field banter and conversation among fans of both countries leading up to the match. Each side is eager to claim bragging rights after securing victory on the cricket field.
The 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup is the biggest yet with 20 sides taking part and there is a return to an old format. All the teams are involved since the initial group stage, with each side playing four games and the top two progressing to the Super 8s.
In the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, Team India finds itself in Group A alongside Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the USA. Their campaign kicks off with a match against Ireland in New York on June 5, 2024. Four days later, they will face Pakistan at the same venue on June 9. Co-hosts USA and India will compete on June 12, followed by India’s final group stage fixture against Canada on June 15. Exciting news for fans: all of Team India’s group stage matches will be broadcast LIVE from 8:00 pm IST on the Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar.