The frenzy over a heady World Cup semi-final clash between arch rivals India and Pakistan next Wednesday has entered cyberspace with cricket fans calling it the "mother of all matches" and one enthusiast wishing Paul, the octopus, was around.

One website has even asked the supporters of the two cricket teams to start a "sms war."

With suspense building over who would emerge winner at Mohali near Chandigarh, one blogger rued there was no "Octopus Paul around." India has beaten Pakistan in all their previous four World Cup encounters.

"Too late he died before predicting the winner!!!," the blogger said.

Paul, the psychic octopus in Germany, fascinated millions of fans during the World Cup football matches in South Africa last year correctly picking winners. The octopus died shortly after the end of the tournament.

The two south Asian countries, whose rivalry is considered one of the most intense sports rivalries in the world, may not do battle for another five days but their fans are taking to the Internet in record numbers to dub the high voltage match as one which is more important than even the World Cup final and with national pride at stake.

"For the subcontinent, that is as good as the final," said one blogger, while another said, "PAK INDIA semi! that is what world cup is all about."

Asking cricket fans of the two countries to start a sms war, one website said, "Comments are open for Indian and Pakistani teams supporters? So now lets start sms war b4 semifinal between Pak/India lets see who will win this funny sms war," it said.

Given the excitement and euphoria that surround an Indo-Pak contest, fans from the rival countries have not even shied away from exchanging unpleasantries though some sober views find mention in the blogosphere and social networking site Twitter.

"It is going to be WORLD WAR III in Mohali.....lets wish CRICKET stays the winner...It will be History rewritten," one blogger Nithyanand Paramasivam said.

And an event like a Indo-Pak cricket match, which has been estimated to attract millions of television viewers, has also generated its share of humour in the cyberworld.

Praying for an emphatic Indian victory, a blogger said the Pakistani team can return home quickly.

"Distance from Mohali to Lahore = 230 Kms. Pakistan can save money on flight, they can go by taxi, its cheaper and better for them," one tweet said.

Taimoor Sajid based in Dubai blogged," I do hope that the high-energy, high-emotion India-Pakistan encounter in Mohali offers a great spectacle of fine cricket and the best possible sportsmanship the two South Asian neighbors have to offer."

"Now the mother of ALL the matches!!!," said an Indian blogger, adding, "Encounter in #Mohali is indeed mouth-watering. The accompanying jingoism is the problem. We can do without that. Alas, it's started already."(MORE) PTI GSN