The Asia Cup 2022 commenced on August 27 but the match everyone is waiting anxiously for is the August 28th encounter between India vs Pakistan. This is one of the most sought-after clashes in any tournament.
List of the most iconic moments from India vs Pakistan matches in the ICC tournaments
1. The jumping Javed Miandad
Going back to the 1992 ICC World Cup, India and Pak clashed at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In that match, Pakistan was chasing 217 and lost two wickets quickly for just 17 runs. However, Aamir Sohail (62) and Javed Miandad (40) had a good partnership. They tried to steady the ship. Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More was constantly chattering away and appealing vigorously. Sachin Tendulkar was bowling and Miandad played one of his deliveries to the cover region and tried to take a run. But he immediately returned to his crease as the ball was fielded and thrown back to More who whipped the bails. Miandad was in the crease, and he mocked More by jumping up and down 4-5 times and appealing for out. Miandad was warned by the umpire not to repeat the act. India went on to win the match but more than the result, the image of the jumping Miandad remains etched in memory.
2. Ajay Jadeja took a special liking to Waqar Younis’ pace and hit him hard
After that, India and Pakistan met in Bangalore at the 1996 WC. Notably, India batted first. Sidhu and Tendulkar gave India a good start. However, there was a struggle in the middle with Azhar, Mongia, and Kambli failing to score big. India needed quick runs, and Ajay Jadeja came to the rescue. The flamboyant right-hander took a special liking to Waqar Younis’ pace and hit him hard. In the 48th over, Jadeja smashed 3 boundaries and a six-over long on to score 22 runs from the over. When Younis returned for the last over, he was welcomed with a boundary followed by a huge six over long off. Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif later said in his video blog that this was the best batting effort he had seen against this Pakistani attack. Moreover, Jadeja was simply effortless.
3. Sachin slashed a 151kmph delivery over the point for a six
India and Pakistan met at the SuperSport Park, Centurion at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar was at his peak and bowling superfast deliveries. But Sachin Tendulkar had different ideas as he sent Shoaib’s 150kmph deliveries racing towards the boundary. In one of the iconic shots, Sachin slashed a 151kmph delivery over the point boundary for a six. Sachin continued his onslaught as Shoaib, Akram and Razzak had no respite. Sachin scored a match-winning 98. India won by 6 wickets. Sachin later recalled that he had not slept a wink the night before.
4. Joginder Sharma’s calmness and Dhoni’s brilliance won India the World Cup
Joginder Sharma snares Misbah India and Pakistan met in the final of the same event and Pakistan had a chance to take revenge for the earlier loss. Chasing 158, Pakistan was on course to win with Misbah-ul-Haq at the crease who had hit Harbhajan for 3 sixes and brought down the asking rate. Pakistan needed 13 from the final over by Joginder Sharma. The first ball was wide and Misbah hit the second for a huge six. Pakistan was in a comfortable place needing 5 off 4 balls. Though it was the last pair. Misbah was looking good to take them home. Off the third ball, Joginder guessed rightly that Misbah would be scooping over fine leg, so he bowled a slower one, and all Misbah could manage was an easy catch to Sreesanth at short fine leg. This was the wizardry of Dhoni to anticipate Misbah’s shot and Joginder’s calmness that won India the World Cup.
5. Rohit Sharma’s hundred in 2019
India met Pakistan in Manchester at the 2019 World Cup. Batting first, India scored 336 for 5 in 50 overs. The star was Rohit Sharma who hit a classy 140 in 113 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes. He was also the highest run-scorer in the tournament with 648 runs in 9 matches. Pakistani bowler Hasan Ali later said that getting the wicket of Rohit Sharma was the most difficult task. He was scoring freely even after his century and the Pak bowlers were like, “What else can we do?” Notably, Rohit Sharma will again be a key factor as India takes on Pakistan in the Asia Cup on Sunday.
