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InDepth headlines national business sports cricket regional entertainment technology world travel autos health | in-depth coverage > India-Pakistan Series 2006 > Indo-Pak cricket history: Trappings of a potboiler 09.56 IST 12th Jan 2006 By Agencies 
A peep into the rich history of India-Pakistan cricket would be enough to whet the appetite of even the uninitiated, given the interplay of drama, intrigue and passion that underlines each of their encounters.It would thus not be an exaggeration to suggest India and Pakistan have enriched world cricket with their love for the game and bitterness for each other. Their history can be traced back to the times when cricketing icons Lala Amarnath and Fazal Mahmood graced the game. Both of them were born in Lahore and played against each other in club cricket. They were also witness to the gory bloodshed during the Partition days, which left a lifetime scar on their psyche. Amarnath came close to being butchered on a violent train journey but was saved just in time by a police officer who arranged a Sikh's 'kada' for him, according to cricketing folklore. On another train journey, Mahmood came in the line of fire of extremists but C K Nayudu brandished his bat and rescued him. "Amarnath lost his ancestral house in Lahore, along with all his trophies and mementos, including the bat with which he had lashed India's first Test century, a piece of equipment he literally worshipped," according to Wisden. "For Mahmood it was a catharsis. Amarnath sent him a telegram asking him to join the Indian team for Australia, but he declined. When the chief minister of West Punjab followed up, at the request of his Indian counterpart, Mahmood replied: 'Barey bhai, do you want me to bring laurels for India?" Amarnath became the first Test captain of independent India while Mahmood went on to captain Pakistan later. Pakistan played their first ever Test series in late 1951 in India, which set the tone for the rest of their on and off encounters. What emerged from this encounter was a unique feature -- the players hated to lose to one another, which goes on to explain the number of draws their games resulted in. Out of 53 Tests played between them so far, India have won eight matches, Pakistan 11 while 34 have ended in no result. The other prominent feature "was a mutual disgruntlement with one another's umpiring and sense of fair play." "And somewhere in between all that has always lain a genuine affection for one another's cultures, a fondness for one another's company, and something resembling a sibling love-hate." Pakistan were led on that first tour by Abdul Hafeez Kardar, who had played Test cricket for the All India team. This series fuelled a lot of interest and curiosity and generally there was a sense of goodwill. The actual cricket was hard-fought with Vinoo Mankad setting up victory for India in the first Test at Delhi. At Lucknow, in the following match, Pakistan recorded their historic maiden Test victory. Eventually, India won 2-1 to clinch their first Test series victory. Kardar was still captain during the reciprocal tour in 1954-55. India were led by Vinoo Mankad. The tour began in Dhaka, then a part of East Pakistan, before flying across. The Lahore Test saw 10,000 Indians crossing the border, not only to enjoy cricket but to meet old friends and relatives. "But the cricket itself was singularly unappealing. Both teams scored at about two an over. Every one of the Tests was a draw, the first time it was ever so in a series of five or more matches. Which was the second time? "When India and Pakistan met again, five years later," writes Wisden. Obviously, the draws meant there was too much at stake for the two teams, much beyond the realms of the cricket ground. The most notorious story of the 50s series was how Hanif Mohammad was accosted at Baroda by a fan who cut his fingers with a ring. No cricket was played between the archrivals for the next 17 years, what with two wars being fought in 1965 and 1971. Between October 1978 and December 1989, they played seven Test series and 21 of these 29 were draws. But Pakistan's superiority in the period cannot be questioned. They won six matches to India's two, and two series, home and away, to India's one at home. in-depth coverage > India-Pakistan Series 2006 > |
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