The Spoils of Indo–Pak Skirmishes
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MATCH: WORLD CUP, SYDNEY DATE: MARCH 4, 1992 RESULT: INDIA WON BY 43 RUNS OOK AT the picture. The man in animated suspension was one of the best practitioners of the Gen- tleman’s Game to emerge from Pakistan. Javed Miandad played 233 ODIs. Thirty-five of them—in which he hit three centuries—were Lagainst India. The thorn in the flesh of the Indian team for a very long time, Miandad’s THE DYNAMITE lasting impression on the Indian psyche PAST may well have been the cruel last-ball six he hit off Chetan Sharma in the final of the 1986 Australasia Cup in Sharjah. But it is his meltdown during a World Cup match in Sydney in 1992 that stands out as the moment that capped the insanity associ- ated with India–Pakistan encounters in THE SPOILS the heady ’90s. India had posted a total of 216 on the back of a reasonable middle-order showing—with Sachin Tendulkar scor- ing an unbeaten 54. Pakistan faltered at OF INDO–PAK the start, losing Inzamam-ul-Haq and Zahid Fazal for two runs each. After Im- ran Khan got out with the scoreboard reading 130/5, the only thing that stood SKIRMISHES between India and a win was Miandad. Everything was going as things go at India and Pakistan have clashed in 121 a cricket match when, suddenly, dur- ing a Tendulkar over, Miandad started one-dayers since 1978–79. As you wait for a jumping frantically, making faces. At the receiving end, if you can call it that, was new chapter in one of cricket’s most engaging India’s chirpy wicket-keeper, Kiran More. sagas to unfold this holiday season, we relive “They were under pressure from the start and the run rate was increas- the past showdowns between the archrivals ing,” says More. “A lot of words were exchanged between us. He even com- By Vimal Kumar and Shalabh Manocha plained to the umpire that I was disturb- Photograph by PATRICK EAGAR/GeTTY IMAGES ing him from behind the stumps every time he took guard.” exchanged,” More says. “There is so much same languages, such things do happen the decision. I said, Why are you dancing Miandad’s version, as told to SI INDIA, pressure in these games that sometimes when we play each other.” as if somebody is singing the old English is slightly different. “More was trying to words that shouldn’t be used are voiced in Miandad, on the other hand, said the song, ‘Maria Maria’, for you?” Miandad disturb my concentration as I was bat- the heat of the moment. Though it is not Indian was practically begging the umpire says in 2012, laughing. ES (MORE) ting,” he recalls. “First, I tried to ignore G to hurt an individual. Since we speak the to give him out. “I told him, don’t beg for Miandad was bowled by Javagal Sri- THE CRACKPOT Trying to counter More's him but there came a time when I com- nath for 40. India won by 43 runs. But the incessant appealing, Miandad pletely lost it. He made one appeal for two continue to get along even today. asked the wicket-keeper to my wicket very excitedly, and, as soon as “Javed is a dear friend,” says More. “ stop dancing before showing off one of the most famous the decision went in my favour, I started On the park, we played hard cricket. After ODAY GROUP/GETTY IMA moves ever witnessed on a jumping.” T the game, we were mates. I have been to A I “I HAVE BEEN TO HIS (MIANDAD’S) HOUSE cricket ground. D The incident sparked a laugh riot in N his house for dinner on a number of oc- HE I the commentary box but no commenta- T ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. HE HAS casions. He has been very nice to me. He tor chose to shed light on the conversa- has also met me many times in India. We tion in the middle. “Nasty words were NEHA NATH/ BEEN VERY NICE TO ME,” SAYS MORE. have a very healthy relationship.” 100 | SpORTS ILLUSTRAT ED | JANUARY 2013 JANUARY 2013 | SpORTS ILLUSTRAT ED | 101 THE DYNAMITE PAST THE DYNAMITE PAST MATCH: FINAL AUSTRALASIA CUP, SHARJAH DATE: MARCH 18, 1986 RESULT: PAKISTAN WON BY 1 wiCKET “MY PLAN WAS TO LEAN BACK, MAKE T THE end of a high-intensity India– ROOM FOR MYSELF AND PLAY THE SHOT,” Pakistan face-off, one team cel- ebrates like there is no tomorrow, SAYS MIANDAD OF HIS LAST-BALL SIX. while the other mourns as one would A at a relative’s funeral. The scene was Indian players were strategising but I had near Miandad’s legs. similar when the two teams played each a strategy of my own. And then I prayed,” “Even though Sharma did attempt a other in the final of the 1986 Australasia he says. “I sensed Sharma was going to at- yorker, the ball somehow slipped out of Cup in Sharjah. Pakistan had to chase 246 tempt a yorker and aim for my legs. So I his hand, turning it into a full toss delivery, to win the game and needed a boundary decided to stand well outside the crease. which I hit with all my might, and...lo and off the last ball with only a wicket in hand. My plan was to lean back, make room for behold...it was a six! Pakistan had won,” Chetan Sharma was to bowl the last ball. On myself and play the shot.” Miandad had told Pakistan’s Dawn news- strike was Javed Miandad with offspinner Before he got ready to face the last ball, paper on the 25th anniversary of the shot. Tauseef Ahmed at the other end. Miandad went to Ahmed and told him Sharma went down on his knees after The lead-up to that epochal moment that they would have to run whether he hit bowling that fateful delivery, his team- had been chaotic. A few balls earlier Mo- the ball or missed it. The advantage that mates wearing a blank expression. hammad Azharuddin had missed a simple Miandad had was that he was well set. The scene in the Pakistan dressing run-out chance. On the second-last ball, “Batting on 110 I was set and seeing room was a little less sombre. Miandad got an inside edge but Roger the ball extremely well. I surveyed the “We just danced and enjoyed a lot Binny at short fine leg was alert enough field twice and then calmed my nerves. that day,” says Miandad. “The congratu- to stop a single. What happened next went in our favour,” latory messages kept on pouring in and Talking to SI INDIA on the phone from recalls Miandad. Sharma did attempt the there was pin-drop silence near the In- Pakistan, Miandad remembers the in- yorker, but the ball though slipped out dian dressing room for at least a couple cident as if it happened yesterday. “The of his hand and landed as a low full toss of hours.” MATCH: CHAMPIONS TROPHY, SHARJAH With India all out in the 41st over after arm spinner, Shastri, was complementing MATCH: 1ST ODI, KARACHI DATE: DEC. 5, 1986 scoring just 144, the match looked like a Maninder admirably from the other end. DATE: MARCH 13 , 2004 RESULT: PAKISTAN WON BY 3 wiCKETS one-sided contest when Pakistan open- However, Pakistan too had a late-order RESULT: INDIA WON BY 5 RUNS ers Rameez Raja and Shoaib Moham- recovery as fortune swayed both ways. “MOIN KHAN WAS AT THE CREASE AND HE IGHT MONTHS after Javed Miandad’s last- mad posted a 51-run stand. But once Ravi “You know, I always say Imran was very FTEN IN sport, occasion and context are IS A VERY GOOD FINISHER. BUT IT WAS NOT ball six off Chetan Sharma, India Shastri broke that partnership, Maninder much ahead of his times. In those days, the seen as the first yardsticks to judge were up against Pakistan at Sharjah came up with a dream spell that quickly concept of floater was never heard of and the greatness of a performance. The HIS DAY, I GUESS,” RECALLS NEHRA. once again. It was an all-important altered the balance of the match. Imran used Manzoor Elahi in that role. bigger the occasion, the greater the league match, the last one of the “If I remember correctly, I was on a Elahi had a good partnership with Ijaz context and you will see great ath- over. The scoreboard screamed 34 for two. Pakistan was never out of the game. In D E AV O quadrangular Champions Trophy—a vir- hat-trick after removing Mohammad Ahmed (43 runs for the seventh wicket) letes producing staggering results. In this For Indian fans, victory seemed inevitable. the 49th over, Kaif’s stunning catch to get I D M U tual semifinal. Both teams had beaten Sri and Miandad with consecutive balls. Mi- and he created some doubts in our mind,” EHRA) match, however, more than the athlete, it The players, however, know better than to rid of Shoaib Malik lifted the entire team,” N N DE N Lanka in the league matches and lost to the andad’s duck suddenly lifted the spirits says the former India spinner. ES ( was the performance of the two teams that take anything for granted in India–Paki- recalls Nehra. / G P West Indies. Pakistan captain Imran Khan of the entire team. We sensed anything Elahi played an innings Miandad would OPPER will be remembered forever.