As the month of December is approaching the India- Pakistan bilateral series has finally congealed as both countries agreed to play the series in Sri Lanka. The hot summer has gone. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been using so many tricks to get the bilateral series with India done. But, BCCI was not showing it intent about the series because of Indian government’s stern Pakistan policy.
The impasse has finally broken as ECB chairman Giles Clarke mediated the meeting between BCCI president Shashank Manohar and PCB chairman Shahryar Khan met in Dubai. But, a series which was almost ditched because of the state of the diplomatic relationship between both countries.
The Indian cricket governing body BCCI has opted to abide the policy Indian government has taken against Pakistan- snubbed all kind of ties with Pakistan as the country is not assisting India over the case of 26/11 Mumbai attack.
But, PCB, who are facing the burn of financial scarcity as since 2009, did not get any high profile bilateral series to host in the country because of security threat. Series in UAE draw a few people, but, PCB knows if India and Pakistan play in UAE then the series would be a hit. But, BCCI’s new president Shashank Manohar did not agree to play in Pakistan as he thinks UAE is prone for fixing and betting, so India will not play in UAE.
The newly elected BCCI president Shashank Manohar is positive about the series. Though his meeting with Shahryar Khan was cancelled in Mumbai due to vociferous protest by Hindu hardliner political party Shiv Sena BCCI proposed Pakistan for a short limited over series in India. However, Pakistan cancelled proposal of series in India. They wanted to play India in UAE as they want to get full revenue of the series.
However, both BCCI and PCB have to take the official approval from their respective government about the series. Recently Indian home minister Rajnath Singh said India wants greater ties with Pakistan through cricket while Pakistan prime minister also sounds positive about the series.
As the series almost finalised Sportzwiki finds out 5 humdinger matches India and Pakistan have ever played.
1)2007 World T20 Final at Johannesburg
Two arch rivals from South East Asia have reached the final of inaugural World T20 final at New Wanderers, Johannesburg in 2007. The date was 24 September 2007. Both teams have already met each other in the tournament. The match was tied. But, India had won it by a bowl out.
So, in the final Pakistani bowlers restricted India in 157. Gautam Gambhir scored 75, Umar Gul has taken 3 wickets. Pakistan while chasing their 6 wickets tumbled in 77 runs. Batsman like Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Akhtar has already gone. Irfan Pathan and RP Singh has taken three wickets each. But captain Misbah-ul-Haq has salvaged their chance in the match with two small partnerships with Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir. Pakistan was needed 13 runs from the last over. India captain gave the ball in Joginder Sharma’s hand. Misbah hit a massive six in the third ball of the over. So, everybody thought the cup has gone from India’s hand. But, Misbah made the blunder in the next delivery as he tried to scoop the ball that eventually caught by Sreesanth that devasted entire Pakistan team. India were the champion of 2007 World T20.
2)1985, Sharjah, the folklore of Indo-Pak rivalry
In 1985, two arch rival faced each other in the Rothmans quadrennial ODI series in the desert city of Sharjah.
It was the first match of the highly anticipated tournament. Pakistan captain and all-rounder Imran Khan, who was among the best, rattled the Indian batting line up with 6 wicket haul. He conceded just 14 runs in 10 overs. India folded up in 125 runs. But, Indian bowlers came harder on Pakistan batsmen. Captain Kapil Dev took 3 while allrounder Ravi Shastri and Laxman Shivaramkrishnan has taken two each.
Pakistan batsmen lost the match as they lost their nerve. Five batsmen were out without opening their account. Pakistan were bundled out for 87 runs. This was one of those rare low scoring Indo-Pak matches where bowler carnage both countries’ batting line-up.
3)Javed Miandad’s hit last ball six, Pakistan won the match
India-Pakistan’s rivalry is the part of cricket’s folklore. In the 1980 and 1990s, political tensions were blended with the cricketing rivalry. This Pakistan batting great is a much-talked crickter in India. Fans of 1980’s can’t forget Miandad.
Miandad probably erected the reason why Indian parents don’t want their son to become a bowler. Chetan Sharma, after turning the match in India’s favour, was blown away in the last ball. In the final of the Austral-Asia Cup in April 1986 India buoyant on Gavaskar’s 92 posted 245 runs on the board. The match was in India’s favour until the last ball when Miandad hit Sharma for six to win the match and scripted the history.
4) 2004 Karachi ODI India won the match by 5 runs.
After a 14 years of break, India visited Pakistan for a five-match ODI series and three-match Test series. In the first match of the spring season, India batsmen battered Pakistan bowling lineup at National Cricket Stadium, Karachi in front of 33,000 capacity stadium. Batting first India scored mammoth 349 on board. Rahul Dravid scored 99 while opener Virender Sehwag scored a 57 ball 79.
But, thanks to Pakistan batsmen who made the match a humdinger. Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 122 off 102 balls and Mohammad Yousuf scored 73 off 68 balls.
Ashish Nehra was bowling the last over. Six was needed from the last ball, but batsmen Moin Khan was caught inside the boundary line by Zaheer Khan. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly rejoiced after the match, “there was no Javed Miandad batting”.
5)2003 World Cup at SuperSport Park, Centurion, Sachin’s epic reply
Owing to 1999 Kargil war, there was a faceoff between two willy-nilly neighbours. All bilateral relations were snubbed along with cricket ties. So, when India and Pakistan face each other at Centurion’s SuperSport Park heated up. It was the most viewed in the world cup. The was watched by more people than the world cup final at New Wanderers, Johannesburg.
Pakistan winning the toss chose to bat first. Left-handed opener Saeed Anwar scored 101 before being bowled by Zaheer Khan. Pakistan posted 273 on board. In a nerve cracking match where tension outdoes technique and talent.
Sachin Tendulkar, who later revealed that he did not sleep before the match, played one of his most adorable innings. He scored 98 off 75 balls. His uppercut of Shoaib Akhtar’s bouncer was a fascinating sight of the match to watch.
Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram were playing their last match against India. They were threatened by Pakistan fugitive as they failed to win the match as Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh built a 99 runs partnership that helped India to register comfortable 6 wickets.