The ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup's top batsman will face the top bowler when India takes on Pakistan in the Super League semi-final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.

The curtain raiser to the forthcoming Test series between the sides is the most-eagerly anticipated clash of the U-19 tournament to date. The match is given extra spice by the prospect of a head-to-head between India batsman Shikhar Dhawan and Pakistan bowler Riaz Afridi.

Dhawan is the tournament's highest run-scorer and leads the Man of the Tournament standings. He has hit three centuries and one fifty in his six innings and averages 99.4 at an impressive strike rate of 95.02.

The left-handed opener's aggregate of 497 runs is 147 more that the second highest individual total accumulated by England's Alastair Cook.

Afridi has already taken 16 wickets in the tournament at 10.75 and will open the bowling for Pakistan against India. The powerful right-arm fast bowler claimed a five wicket haul in his last match against England that comprised three clean-bowled and two lbws.

As well as an early glimpse of this potential future international rivalry, the match will also revive memories of an earlier classic encounter between the sides.

In January 1998 India and Pakistan met in the final of the Independence Cup tri-nations tournament at the same Bangabandhu National Stadium. India won the final 2-1, successfully chasing 314 to win the deciding match by three wickets.

One of the key contributors was Robin Singh who hit 82 before being caught by Aaqib Javed. Singh is now coach of India's U-19s while Javed - who returned figures of 1 for 63 in that match - fulfils the same role for Pakistan.

Both men, however, sought to play down the rivalry ahead of tomorrow's match.

"Playing against Pakistan is a different ball game but our players shouldn't feel any extra pressure in this match than they normally do," said Singh.

"In a day/night match like this one it can be very tough to chase a large total so if we win the toss we will bat first."

Javed also suggested his side would like to bat first.

"I think a score over 230 could be enough to win the match," said Javed.

"It's a semi-final match so the opposition is not important to us. The important thing is that we want to play in the final and to do that we must win this match."

A large crowd is expected at the Bangabandhu National Stadium and the game will be televised live in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.

India captain Ambati Rayudu is suspended after breaching the ICC Code of Conduct in his side's previous match, Dinesh Karthik will take over the responsibility.

Billy Doctrove and Jeremy Lloyds are the appointed umpires.

Plate Championship semi-final - Ireland v Australia

Ireland coach: no reason why we can't win against Australia

In the first Plate Championship semi-final Australia will take on Ireland at the M.A. Aziz Stadium on Sunday.

Australia failed to qualify for the Super League after losing heavily to Zimbabwe in the group round. Since their elimination from the main event Australia have made light work of their three Plate Championship matches against Scotland, Papua New Guinea and Nepal.

Ireland almost upset the West Indies in the first round and their coach Adrian Birrell believes his side may be capable of causing an upset against Australia.

"All of the pressure is on Australia as everyone expects them to win," said Birrell.

"We are only an ICC Associate country but we have a good team and if one of our players can excel himself in tomorrow's match there's no reason why we can't win."

Ireland qualified for the semi-final with comfortable victories over Canada and Uganda.