Thanks, Shiv Sena. Not like it was ever going to happen, but whatever faint hopes cricket fans on both sides of the border might have nurtured about India and Pakistan playing cricket again were swiftly extinguished when the Sena, donning the mantle of foreign policy hawks, vandalised the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Mumbai office for the perceived offence of meeting the PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan and, not stopping at that, threatened Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar’s safety.
So that’s it, then. Sources have pretty much confirmed that there would be no India-Pakistan series in December, not even on neutral grounds. Worse, former Pakistani great and current ICC president Zaheer Abbas even stated that Pakistan could boycott the World Twenty20 Championship, scheduled to be held in India next year, though Khan later rejected such reports.
Since it doesn't look like we can enjoy the feverish atmosphere of an India-Pakistan series any soon, the only option left is too look back in history and enjoy some of their greatest clashes over the years.
“Baap baap hota hai...” 2003 World Cup, Centurion:
This match will always be remembered for the iconic image of Sachin Tendulkar slashing ferociously at a Shoaib Akhtar delivery and sending it over point for a six. Two hundred and seventy-three was a tall chase and India had never chased more than 222 successfully in a World Cup game. But once Tendulkar had played that shot, there could only be one result.
That last-ball six, 1985 Australia Asia Cup final, Sharjah:
That match. Javed Miandad. Chetan Sharma. Four runs needed off the last ball. Yorker gone awry. Leg-stump full toss smashed over deep midwicket. 'nuff said.
The Prasad-Sohail face off, 1996 World Cup, Bangalore:
Ajay Jadeja, still a fresh-faced lad in those times, took a liking to Waqar Younis, smashing him to all corners of Chinnaswamy Stadium. India’s 287 looked impressive, but when Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwer raced to 84 in the first ten overs, the result looked a foregone conclusion. But then, India-Pakistan clashes can turn suddenly, and when a cocky Sohail decided to mock Prasad after hitting him for a boundary,well...see for yourself.
Shoaib cleans up Sachin at the Eden, 1999 Test Match, Kolkata:
The delivery on which the Rawalpindi Express steamed in to the limelight. A packed-to-the-rafters Eden Gardens watched in shocked awe as a missile beamed down at Rahul Dravid’s feet and cleaned him up.The celebrations to bring in Sachin Tendulkar were eerily silenced when Shoaib Akhtar dispatched the Little Master with a similar delivery. It was Tendulkar’s first golden duck in Test Match cricket.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!