The 2023 Cricket World Cup got underway in India on Thursday with a clash between last time’s finalists New Zealand and England. However, all eyes are set on the tournament’s biggest clash just over a week away.

Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India in Ahmedabad on October 14. The game gets additional weight as the two neighbors do not play each other except in major tournaments.

The two teams have squared up in World Cups seven times, with India winning each clash. However, a celebrated crciketer and analyst has claimed that the trend might be in for a change.

Michael Atherton, the former England batsman and cricketer, told Sky Sports that he expects the stadium to be packed and the atmosphere to be electric unlike the opening game of the tournament.

However, the atmosphere is not the only thing that might change, according to Atherton.

“As my bold prediction, I’m saying that for the first time in a 50-over World Cup Pakistan will beat India,” Atherton said.

“It is sure to be a packed house; it will be mayhem and maybe Pakistan will jump a surprise,” he added.