India vs Pakistan is arguably the most high rated clash in the world of cricket, As the rivalry among these two Asian giants is a long lasting affair. Every time when these two nations take on each other there are several controversies that take place on and off the field. Here is a glance at five of the most controversial India – Pakistan cricketing moments.
1) KIRAN MORE and JAVED MIANDAD (1992)
This was the first time when India and Pakistan met each other in an ICC event or rather in a world cup. As known the buzz around this clash was at a different level. Irritated by an extravagant appeal for a play and miss by the then Indian wicket keeper Kiran More, Miandad stopped the bowler(Sachin Tendulkar) in the middle of his run-up and turned out to the keeper to have a couple of words.
After running a quick double of the next ball Miandad was rather more annoyed with the reaction of More who ripped the bails off in some kind of enthusiasm, then he mocked More by leaping three times in the air which turned out to be a vain attempt to imitate the over enthusiastic More, which led to an iconic controversy among the two nation’s cricketing history.
2) AAMER SOHAIL and VENKATESH PRASAD (1996)
A world cup knockout clash between the then defending champions Pakistan and India. Opting to bat first India posted a score of 287/8 which in those days was a formidable target. In reply Pakistan were off to a flier by some fearless attitude shown by the then openers Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail. While Anwar fell for 48, Sohail continued with his aggression and probably paid the price for that.
In the 15th over of the innings when Pakistan were cruising towards the victory Sohail smashed a boundary on the offside and signalled at the bowler Prasad “go fetch that”. Prasad replied him in the best possible manner with the next ball, playing all around to a straightish ball Sohail found his off stump uprooted, which helped India to come back into the game as they sealed a 39-run victory.
3) GAUTAM GAMBHIR and SHAHID AFRIDI (2007)
Post 1999, India and Pakistan did not play many matches against each other. But things started heating up in the mid 2000’s as their rivalry started creating a few controversial moments on the field.
During the 3rd ODI of Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007, Gambhir and Afridi were involved in an ugly spat when the Indian opening left hander into the bowler Afridi. Although the umpires were around to get the things back to normal. This was the start of Gautam Gambhir’s runs ins with the Pakistan team. A few years later, he found himself in the middle of another controversy.
4) GAUTAM GAMBHIR and KAMRAN AKMAL (2010)
During an Asia cup match at Dambulla in 2010 Gambhir lost his cool to a ridiculous appeal from the keeper Kamran Akmal for a caught behind. Followed a drinks break during which Gambhir and Akmal nearly came to blows.
Fortunately intervened by the umpires and the then non striker in the form of India’s Mr.Cool MSD to calm down the things. Gambhir did not relent though, and then he eventually got. While Akmal did not say anything afterwards, his all knowing smile meant that he knew he may have the battle after all.
5) HARBHAJAN SINGH and SHOAIB AKTHAR (2010)
In the same asia cup clash which saw an ugly spat between Gambhir and Kamran Akmal, there were more ugly scenes this time it was between the Turbanator and the Rawalpindi Express.
Shoaib Akthar after being hit to a six by Harbhajan Singh in the penultimate over, Shoaib Akhtar took it on himself to stop the off spinner from completing a victory to his side and went on to have a couple of words which made the off spinner agitated. But the Turbanator had the last laugh as he won the match for his side by smashing a huge six of the penultimate ball of the last over of Mohammad Amir’s bowling.
