ISLAMABAD: Arch-rivals Pakistan and India will face off at the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup in New York on Sunday (tomorrow) for the 13th time in the history of cricket’s shortest format.
Cricket enthusiasts around the world are eagerly waiting Pakistan vs India match as encounters between the two nuclear nations on the cricket field are always charged with emotion and intensity.
The two nations only face each other in international tournaments due to political tensions and last met in a 2022 T20 World Cup encounter in Melbourne, when India won.
With the history of their T20I encounters dating back to 2007, India holds a dominant record with nine wins to Pakistan’s three. However, recent encounters have seen a more balanced competition, with the two teams sharing victories in their last four matches.
Ahead of their upcoming showdown, AFP takes a look back at five memorable Pakistan-India T20 encounters that have etched themselves into cricketing folklore:
T20I World Cup 2007 Bowl-Out Drama
In their first-ever T20 encounter during the inaugural T20I World Cup in Durban, India and Pakistan’s group match ended in a thrilling tie. Pakistan elected to field in the group match in the inaugural T20 World Cup and restricted India to 141-9.
The match was ultimately decided by a bowl-out, where India’s captain MS Dhoni selected non-specialist bowlers to hit the stumps, securing a historic victory for India. Part-time bowlers Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa and premier spinner Harbhajan Singh all hit the stumps, while Pakistan’s top-line pacemen Yasir Arafat and Umar Gul, and spinner Shahid Afridi all missed.
It is the only time a World Cup match has been decided by a bowl-out, with the tiebreaker now replaced by a super over.
Misbah’s Misfire in Final of T20I World Cup 2007
Just days after their group stage tie, Pakistan and India met again in the final of the inaugural T20I World Cup in Johannesburg. Set 158 for victory, Pakistan lost wickets regularly but Misbah-ul-Haq kept the target in sight with his gritty batting.
Needing 13 runs from the final over, Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq’s ill-fated scoop shot handed India the title in a dramatic finish. Pakistan reached the final over needing 13 runs against an unlikely Indian bowling option in Joginder Sharma.
Misbah hit a six after a wide and a dot ball, to need six from four balls, only to opt for a scoop shot that got more height than distance. It landed in the hands of S Sreesanth at short fine-leg to trigger wild Indian celebrations as they won the World Cup by five runs.
Shaheen Afridi’s Dominance in T20I World Cup 2021
In a group match of the 2021 T20I World Cup in Dubai, Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi dismantled India’s top-order with a fiery spell, setting the stage for Pakistan’s historic 10-wicket victory. Virat Kohli’s valiant effort went in vain as Pakistan cruised to victory.
Tall left-arm quick Shaheen sent back opener Rohit Sharma for a first-ball duck as he rattled the Indian top-order, finishing with 3-31.
Mohammad Rizwan made 79 and skipper Babar Azam 68 as Pakistan took the India bowling attack apart to cruise to a 10-wicket win — their first-ever World Cup victory against their fiercest rivals.
Nawaz’s All-Round Show (2022 Asia Cup)
Pakistan returned to Dubai to face India in the 2022 Asia Cup Super Four clash after they were beaten by the neighbors in the group stage. During a Super Four clash in the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai, India rode on Kohli’s 60 to reach 181-7 but the total could have been more had it not been from some disciplined bowling by Pakistan spinners Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz showcased his all-round prowess, contributing with both bat and ball to secure a thrilling five-wicket victory for his team over India.
Nawaz returned figures of 1-25 before he hammered a 20-ball 42 to steer Pakistan to a five-wicket victory with one ball to spare.
Kohli Rescues India (2022 T20I World Cup)
In a high-octane encounter at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2022 T20I World Cup, India found themselves in trouble at 31-4 chasing Pakistan’s total of 159. However, Virat Kohli’s majestic innings of 82 not out guided India to a sensational last-ball victory.
India needed 31 off the final 12 balls but Kohli hit two sixes off pace bowler Haris Rauf in the 19th over and India won by four wickets on the final ball.
