India v Pakistan – always the biggest draw
India and Pakistan have played out a number of matches in ICC events and though India have a better record, it’s always even before an Indo-Pak match starts
30 September 2012 - 11:43am IST
by R Kaushik in Colombo
India met Pakistan for
the first time at an ICC Cricket World Cup in Sydney in 1992. It had
taken 17 years and five editions for cricket’s most colourful rivalry to be
played out on the biggest cricketing stage, though since then, the teams have
met more regularly in ICC events.
India holds a distinct
edge over Pakistan in global head-to-heads. It has won all five
matches in ICC Cricket World Cup history, and won one and tied another – which
it won in a bowl-out – in the ICC World Twenty20. Pakistan, on the other
hand, has won both showdowns in the ICC Champions Trophy.
As is to be expected, the
teams have played out some classics. Ahead of their Super Eights match in the
ICC World Twenty20 2012 on Sunday, here’s a look back at India v Pakistan matches
in ICC events.
ICC Cricket World Cup
1. March 4, 1992 (SCG): The first
match between the teams in ICC events was a match full of drama. On a sluggish
surface, India found it hard to make the running after Mohammad
Azharuddin won the toss, Sachin Tendukar’s 54 and a late flurry from Kapil Dev
which netted 35 off 26 deliveries taking it to a modest 216 for 7. The match
was reduced to 49 overs-a-side due to Pakistan’s slow over rate, and even
as wickets fell around him, Aamer Sohail shored up the chase. However, Javed
Miandad consumed 110 deliveries for 40 as India got on top and completed
a 43-run victory. Pakistan crashed to 173 all out, and Tendulkar was
named the Man of the Match.
2. March 9, 1996 (M Chinnaswamy
Stadium, Bangalore): Wasim Akram, the captain, pulled out of the quarter-final
with an injury just before the match, and India pulled off a
brilliant victory in front of a huge crowd in a match which had all the
trappings of an India-Pakistan classic. Navjot Singh Sidhu fuelled India’s
charge with 93 and Ajay Jadeja applied the finishing touches with a 25-ball 45,
which included a spectacular assault on Waqar Younis. India’s 287 for 8 looked
in danger when openers Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar put on 84 in no time, but
when Sohail lost his concentration after a spat with Venkatesh Prasad, India
came roaring back to restrict Pakistan to 248 for 9, and seal a 39-run win. It
was Pakistan’s first loss to India since the ICC Cricket World
Cup 1992, and the first defeat in India since 1987.
3. June 8, 1999 (Old Trafford, Manchester):
In conditions tailor-made for swing bowling, Venkatesh Prasad helped India extend
its hold over Pakistan in a Super Sixes contest that didn’t rise to
any great heights. India laboured to 227 for 6 from 50 overs on the
back of half-centuries from Rahul Dravid and Mohamamd Azharuddin as the wickets
were shared around. Pakistan’s innings went nowhere once Shahid Afridi,
Ijaz Ahmed and Salim Malik were accounted for by Javagal Srinath and Prasad,
who finished with 5 for 27 and the Man of the Match award. Pakistan folded
up for 180, leaving India victors by 47 runs.
4. March 1, 2003 (Super Sport Park,
Centurion): An absolute ripper, played out in front of a boisterous crowd which
whipped up a tremendous atmosphere at what was a neutral venue. Old nemesis
Saeed Anwar held Pakistan together with a stylish century and at the
interval, Pakistan would have been quietly confident, having posted
273 for 7. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, though, had other ideas,
posting 50 in just five overs before Waqar Younis knocked over Sehwag and
Sourav Ganguly in successive deliveries. Tendulkar, however, was unstoppable,
producing sublime attacking batting and closing in on a memorable century when
he was undone by a snorter from Shoaib Akhtar. At 177 for 4, the game was still
in the balance, but Rahul Dravid guided Yuvraj Singh through the turbulent
phase. India romped to 276 for 4 with 4.2 overs to spare, completing a
six-wicket triumph.
5. March 30, 2011 (PCA Stadium,
Mohali): It was a nervy, edgy battle, understandably so because a place in the
final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 was at stake. Virender Sehwag smashed
Umar Gul around as India made a bright start, but Saeed Ajmal’s
introduction changed the complexion of the innings. Sachin Tendulkar escaped
being dismissed leg before after reviewing the decision, narrowly missed being
stumped the following delivery and was dropped four times on his way to 85 but
Wahab Riaz stymied India’s progress with 5 for 46. Suresh Raina’s cameo
towards the end lifted India to 260 for 9. Pakistan was
never seriously in the hunt, losing set batsmen at key moments. All five
bowlers on view picked up two wickets apiece as Pakistan fell well
short despite Misbah-ul-Haq’s late fireworks, India winner by 29 runs
as Pakistan was dismissed in the final over for 231.
ICC Champions Trophy
1. September 19, 2004 (Edgbaston):
In a match dominated by the quicker bowlers, Pakistan snapped a
three-match losing streak against India in ICC events with a
three-wicket victory, fashioned by the pace of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib
Akhtar and completed by the composure of Yousuf Youhana. India mustered
only 200 after being put in, the only meaningful contributions being Rahul
Dravid’s measured 67 and a late flurry from Ajit Agarkar that lifted the team
from the depths of 106 for 6. Irfan Pathan struck thrice in his first spell to
reduce Pakistan to 27 for 3, but Inzamam-ul-Haq lent Youhana support
during a stand of 75 for the fourth wicket. Youhana batted through to remain
unbeaten on 81 when victory was achieved in the final over.
2. September 26, 2009 (Super Sport Park,
Centurion): At the same venue where it had lost a group match in the ICC World
Cup 2003, Pakistan exacted a measure of revenge with a comfortable
54-run win in a Group A clash. Shoaib Malik smashed 128 and Mohammad Yousuf 87
as Pakistan hammered the Indian bowling, amassing 302 for 9. Sachin
Tendulkar fell early but Gautam Gambhir lashed the bowling until being run out
to a huge misjudgement and Younis Khan’s alacrity. Rahul Dravid, recalled to
the one-day side with the bouncy pitches in South Africa in mind,
tried to keep the chase going but had very little support apart from Suresh
Raina’s 46. India was bowled out for 248 with more than five overs
left.
ICC World Twenty20
1. September 14, 2007 (Kingsmead, Durban):
After 40 overs, there was nothing that separated the teams, Pakistan replying
to India’s 141 for 9 with 141 for 7. Pakistan needed one off the
last delivery for victory but Misbah-ul-Haq was run out going for the winning
run, leading to the first bowl-out in ICC World Twenty20 history. India was
on target all three times – through Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Robin
Uthappa – while Pakistan missed all its three attempts, Yasir Arafat,
Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi all embarrassingly off target. It was a tie alright,
but India pocketed the points after its bowl-out victory.