Pakistan’s senior batsman Younis Khan wants India and Pakistan to set aside their strained relations and resume five-day matches as both are giants of the game. “It's my wish to play a Test in Pakistan again, play against India and against all top teams,” Younis said. “India and Pakistan are two giants of cricket – one No. 1 and the other No.2, so whatever the situation between the two nations, it must be forgotten and cricket should be played, people want to watch them play,” he added.
India overcome Imran
India only managed to beat Pakistan six times out of 26 in Sharjah, and their most famous win came in a low-scoring affair on March 22, 1985. Having opted to field on a greenish track, Imran Khan bowled outstandingly to claim 6 for 14 as India were bowled out for 125. Ravi Shastri started the slide with a first-ball duck, and only three batsmen made it to double figures. As Rameez Raja admitted years later, Pakistan were so assured of victory that they became complacent. From 35 for 1, they proceeded to fold for a paltry 87 to hand India a 38-run win.
The shot heard around the world
This is the match no Indian will ever be allowed to forget. You all know about it: One ball, four to win, full toss, hysteria. At Sharjah on April 18, 1986, Pakistan were chasing 246 to win the Austral-Asia Cup. From 215 for 7, they were carried to the final over by Javed Miandad, that maverick who was never one to back down. Batting out of his skin, Miandad held his nerve while Chetan Sharma lost his, serving up a full toss off the final ball which Miandad duly swung away for six. It would take years before India managed to shake the psychological scars of that match.
Aaqib outdoes India
One of the more famous pub quiz questions on India-Pakistan cricket is 'who were Aaqib Javed's hat-trick victims at Sharjah in 1991?' The answer: Shastri, Azharuddin and Tendulkar. On October 25, 1991, during the final of the Wills Trophy, Pakistan piled up the highest score of the tournament, 262 for 6, and handed it over to Aaqib. Starting off by getting Navjot Sidhu in his first over, Aaqib rocked India with a hat-trick in his third, each lbw. He finished with figures of 7 for 37 as Pakistan comfortably won by 72 runs.
Bangalore goes bananas
Pakistan met India in a quarter-final clash of the 1996 World Cup in Bangalore, a high-voltage match which Wasim Akram oddly skipped. Propelled by Sidhu's 93 and Ajay Jadeja's stunning assault on Waqar Younis (his last two overs cost 40), India reached 287 for 8. In reply, Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail set off like men possessed and thumped 84 off the first ten over. Then Sohail chose to taunt Venkatesh Prasad after hitting him for four, only to have his stumps splayed next ball. Pakistan never recovered, and the run-out of Miandad ended Pakistan's reign as world champions and a career that had spanned three decades.
Blitzkrieg in Chepauk
May 21, 1997 - an unforgettable day in Chennai, when Anwar broke the record for the highest individual innings in an ODI. His breath-taking 194, off 146 balls and with 22 fours and five sixes, set up Pakistan's match-winning total of 327 for 5. Inzamam-ul-Haq made his presence felt with a stunning catch at slip to get Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid's maiden century and a fighting fifty from Vinod Kambli were in vain as Aaqib grabbed five. Fittingly, a crowd of 45,000 gave Anwar a standing ovation.
Chauhan seals a thriller
In an international career spanning 21 Tests and 53 ODIs, Rajesh Chauhan's most famous moment came in the second match of a three-ODI series in Karachi on September 30, 1997. Chasing 266 from 47 overs, India had stumbled after Sourav Ganguly's exit for 89. Through Robin Singh and Saba Karim, they recovered and took 33 off three overs from Saqlain Mushtaq to swing the momentum India's way. Pakistan hit back with the wicket of Karim at 257 for 6, but Chauhan swung Saqlain for six with three balls to spare to ensure victory and keep the series alive.
The axe man cometh
Two nights later, India ran into Ijaz Ahmed. At the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore, India failed miserably to defend a poor total of 216, as Pakistan romped home with 142 balls to spare. The man of the moment was a murderous Ijaz, who clubbed 139 off just 84 balls. It was savage hitting, and India were left to once again lick the wounds of defeat.
Kanitkar holds his nerve
In the last of a best-of-three final under floodlights in Dhaka, India were chasing 315. Tendulkar's 26-ball 41 was followed by a 179-run stand in 30 overs between Ganguly and Robin, only for India to lose six wickets in ten overs. After a brief interruption owing to bad light, an unknown Hrishikesh Kanitkar etched his name in history by hitting the winning four with one ball to spare. Earlier, Anwar and Ijaz had put on a record 330 for the third wicket.
Centurion conquered
The first match between the two teams since June 2000 was the best of the 2003 World Cup. A fine century from Anwar propelled Pakistan to 273, but Tendulkar and Sehwag launched a stunning assault. As Akram recalled afterwards, Shoaib Akhtar refused to bowl after the Indian openers belted his first over for 18. India raced out of the blocks, and Tendulkar went on to score 98 from 75 balls. Yuvraj and Dravid then finished off the match coolly to hand India their fourth consecutive World Cup win over Pakistan.
A Karachi classic
The first match of a historic tour to Pakistan in 2004 ended with India beating the hosts by five runs. In front of a capacity crowd of 33,000 India were oddly asked to bat and, led by Sehwag's 59-ball 77 and 99 from Dravid - bowled by Shoaib, of course - made a daunting 349, aided by 30 extras. From 34 for 2, Pakistan were pushed by the genius of Inzamam, who made 122 off 102. A stunning tumbling catch from Mohammad Kaif kick-started the slide, and the equation came down to nine from the final over. Ashish Nehra held his nerve, dismissing Moin Khan with a full toss off the final ball, prompting Ganguly to quip: "Thank God there was no Miandad batting"
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No doubt, both teams are giants of world cricket, but I don't favour any sort of cricketing ties between these countries till all complex issues are resolved.
Osheen Rajpal, class X, CDS-KR, Nagpur
I agree with Younis Khan. Yes, both countries are having disputes, but that shouldn’t come in the way of sports. It’s good to see that there are some who think rationally.
Neha Vasist, class X, SSRVM, Borivali (E), Mumbai
I believe that Younis Khan is correct in saying so. Why should fans from both the countries suffer? It's time that the BCCI too responds, by agreeing.
Jnanam Shah, class X, SSRVM, Borivali (E), Mumbai