Did you know that Pakistan will soon face India in the T20 World Cup match after 5 years?
The cricket world is just one day away from witnessing the famous cricket rivalry in the highly anticipated Pakistan vs India ICC T20 World Cup match at the Dubai International Stadium. After 5 long years, die-hard cricket fans will finally get a dose of what they have been longing for, a nail-biting and high on emotions (and adrenaline kicking) T20 cricket match between Pakistan and India!
Some Stats First!
Although the two cricket rivals have played against each other in the T20 format before (a total of 8 matches to be exact), this will be their first time doing so in UAE, which puts pressure on both teams to deliver good performances. As for the ODIs, Pakistan and India have played a total of 132 matches wherein Pakistan has a slight edge over India, having won 73 matches whereas India has only won 55.
Both cricket rivals have a long-standing history with the UAE soil, as they have played some of the most memorable matches on it. However, in the last two decades, both teams have only played against each other 5 times in UAE – once in Sharjah, twice in Dubai, and twice in Abu Dhabi. So if we go by these stats, the most recent instance of Pakistan and India locking horns on a cricket ground was in 2018 in Dubai.
We know all you cricket fanatics are wondering why the time isn’t passing fast enough. Unfortunately, we can’t help you speed up the time but, what we can do is take you guys along on a trip down memory lane and recap some of the most memorable Pakistan vs India matches that are written in history forever.
Here are 5 Pakistan vs. India matches that kept us on our toes until the very last moment:
1. Austral-Asia Cup Final (1986) In Sharjah
Held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, this is one match that is engraved in every cricket lover’s (Pakistani and Indian both) heart. It kept the audience on its toes till the very last minute (quite literally).
With a target of 246, Pakistan was at 235 for 7 wickets and needed 11 runs to win. Wasim Akram was run out and Zulqarnain was clean bowled. Leaving Pakistan at 241 for 9 wickets, needing 5 runs to win from 2 balls. A single run was taken in the next delivery and it was down to Javed Miandad to make or break the match. Pakistan needed 4 runs on the last ball. A task that seemed impossible. The Indian crowd had already started celebrating in the bleachers. Their celebrations were interrupted by a sixer by Miandad a few seconds later. Pakistan won its first ODI trophy that day.
This match proved exemplary for Pakistani cricket. To date, Pakistanis quote this win to one-up their Indian counterparts during friendly banter and/or a fiery Twitter debate on their famous cricket rivalry.
2. ODI (1987) In Calcutta
Pakistan had to chase 239 in 49 overs. Saleem Malik came in at 161 for 5 wickets and it was looking bad. However, Malik managed to take the score to 174 when Imran Khan got out. Pakistan was down to 174 for 6 and fans could predict the winner at this point. Indian fans were already starting to celebrate. We had no hope left…until Saleem Malik smashed back-to-back 11 fours and a sixer!
Saleem Malik saved the day and Pakistan won by 2 wickets and it is still considered one of the most iconic matches between the two cricket rivals!
3. Asia Cup (2014) In Dhaka
Pakistan was chasing a target of 245, Pakistan needed 9 runs from the last 4 balls. It was down to ‘Boom Boom’ Afridi to decide Pakistan’s fate. Afridi’s ‘go big or go home‘ strategy (thankfully) worked in Pakistan’s favor this time and he very effortlessly at that, smashed 2 sixes from two balls and we almost couldn’t believe our eyes!
Confession: we were very nervous after that first six, we almost didn’t want him to aim for another because we feared the Indian fielders would catch it. It was a very bold move, that too at such a crucial stage in the match!
However, ‘Boom boom’ being his ever-unpredictable self, proved us wrong. Kudos to him for giving Pakistan 2 sixes that Indian cricket fans surely won’t forget!
4. Silver Jubilee Independence Cup Final (1998) In Dhaka
This was a very close call between the two teams. Despite a rocky start, Ijaz Ahmed and Saeed Anwar’s partnership salvaged the match to some extent. The duo scored 230 runs together and 117 and 140 runs each, accumulating a score of 314 for 5 wickets for India to chase.
It was down to India’s Hrishikesh Kanitkar to score 3 runs from 2 deliveries. There was a lot of tension in the air. Kanitkar managed to successfully chase those 3 match-defining runs by hitting a 4 off Saqlain Mushtaq and India won by 3 wickets.
5. First ODI (2004) In Karachi
Oof! This one still hurts because it hits close to home. India toured Pakistan after 15 long years so the stakes were high, especially for Pakistan, as it was our home ground.
India left a total of 350 runs for Pakistan to chase. After a disappointing start at 34 runs for 2 wickets, Inzamam-ul-Haq took matters into his own hands. The Pakistani skipper, along with Muhammad Yousaf, managed to take the score to 125 runs. After India took out Yousaf at 73 runs, Inzamam-ul-Haq continued to shine and scored 122 runs from 102 deliveries.
Pakistan had to score 9 runs in the last over, which Indian player Ashish Nehra tried his best to prevent, and succeeded. India won by 5 runs. Inzamam-ul-Haq was given the man of the match award for his brilliant performance.
Pakistan’s T20 Record In UAE
The Pakistan Cricket Team has had a fairly good record in UAE, which might give it a slight edge over India. It has played a total of 36 T20 matches in UAE, out of which it was victorious in 22.
On top of that, Pakistan has not lost a single T20 match in UAE in the last 11 T20 matches (No pressure, guys).
Babar Azam, the current Pakistani skipper, feels confident about the upcoming Pakistan vs India T20 match in UAE. Addressing a press conference recently, he stated that he hasn’t lost a single match in UAE as of yet and his team is quite familiar with the UAE pitch. Hence, he has full faith in his team to perform well.
Whatever happens tomorrow, we hope the match is entertaining for fans here and across the border because we have been longing for a nail-biting Pakistan vs India face-off for far too long!
Are you excited about the match? Who do you think will win? Let us know.
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Sources: ESPN Cric Info, India TV, Sports Keeda, Spot News 18, Yahoo News
