Pakistan and India are set to conflict in a blockbuster Group A IND v PAK match within the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday in Dubai.
Earlier than the much-awaited match, let’s check out 5 controversial moments on the pitch between the arch-rivals in ODI cricket.
Javed Miandad’s kangaroo bounce
Pakistan’s Javed Miandad at all times discovered a approach of unsettling his opponents together with his batting or sledging, and a match in opposition to India on the 1992 World Cup was no totally different.
Extreme interesting by Indian wicketkeeper Kiran Extra appeared to have irked Miandad throughout Pakistan’s chase in Sydney. The batter had a phrase with Extra, who was always chatting behind the stumps, earlier than taking guard on a supply.
Later, after finishing a cheeky run, Miandad hopped like a kangaroo in a bid to mimic the glovesman in his appeals. Commentators and followers noticed the humorous facet however not Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who seemed visibly livid at Miandad’s antics.
Venkatesh Prasad’s revenge
Opener Aamer Sohail was steering Pakistan’s chase within the IND v PAK 1996 World Cup quarter-final when a second of rashness from the left-handed batter price his workforce the sport.
Chasing 289 for victory in Bengaluru, Sohail and fellow opener Saeed Anwar made the workforce race to 84 in 10 overs earlier than Anwar departed.
Sohail stored up the cost as he hit Indian medium-pacer Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary and sledged the bowler with a finger pointed within the route of the shot.
Prasad hit again, bowling Sohail subsequent ball to an enormous roar from the gang and a send-off gesture from the bowler to derail Pakistan’s chase.
Inzamam-ul-Haq assaults fan
Pakistan’s often cool Inzamam-ul-Haq infamously confronted an Indian fan within the stands at an IND v PAK match in 1997 in Toronto and the incident grew to become a speaking level for years to return.
Inzamam was standing on the boundary when an India supporter heckled the Pakistan batter with chants of “Aloo” (Potato), referring to the cricketer’s cumbersome body.
When the calls grew to become louder on a megaphone, Inzamam directed one among his gamers to carry a bat from the dressing room and was quickly contained in the stands to go after the heckler earlier than safety intervened.
Inzamam was reprimanded for the act and years later mentioned the chants have been private and abusive.
Gautam Gambhir-Shahid Afridi commerce abuse
India batter Gautam Gambhir — now their coach — smacked Pakistan spinner Shahid Afridi for a boundary in a match in 2007 and phrases have been exchanged earlier than the 2 almost got here to blows.
Gambhir and Afridi refused to again down after some verbal volleys and the batter and bowler collided — seemingly on goal — in between a run.
The 2 once more had a go at one another with expletives clearly seen in dramatic TV pictures, earlier than the on-field umpire intervened to douse the fireplace.
Gambhir and Afridi have stored up the rivalry even after retiring and bask in ugly exchanges on social media on cricket and politics.
Shoaib Akhtar triggers Harbhajan Singh
Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar by no means backed down from a combat however in a duel with Harbhajan Singh at an IND v PAK 2010 Asia Cup sport, the India spinner had the final snort.
Akhtar bowled a dot ball to tailender Harbhajan in India’s chase and threw just a few sledges, however that solely triggered the batter to hit a six for an India victory within the closing over off Mohammad Amir. Harbhajan celebrated wildly in entrance of Akhtar, who informed him the place to go.
Akhtar and Harbhajan not too long ago playfully re-enacted the second on TV in a promotion video for the Champions Trophy.