The Mother of all battles is all set to start today between India and Pakistan where these two Asian Powerhouse will compete against each other today in Champions Trophy 2025 at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai at 2.30 PM IST.
On Paper India looks rock solid, with Pakistan being the most uncertain team, nothing can be predicted as the game between India and Pakistan is a pressure based game and the team which handles pressure brilliantly on the given day will emerge winner.
Ahead of today’s clash, let’s talk about the most controversial game played between India and Pakistan held so far in detail to be shared in the below format:
The most controversial match happened in 1978, Sahiwal Pakistan, and the occasion was special as the match between arch rivals happened after 17 years.
In the year 1978, on political Front, General Zia Took over control in Pakistan whereas, Congress party lost election to Janta Party came to power.
Back in those days, Hockey used to be the most powerful sport in place of Cricket where the gentlemen’s game was yet to search its commercial angle so the tour was certainly most talked about event.
India under the leadership of Bishan Singh Bedi, went on Pakistan tour, for 3 Test and ODI matches respectively.
In those days, ODI cricket was certainly coming up the line however Test was most talked about format back then too.
ODI game was held 40 Overs in that encounter as the focus was entirely on Test matches.
India started their ODI campaign with a bang where individual brilliance came from Mohinder Amarnath who scored 51 runs and clinched 2 wickets for 38 runs was adjudged the player of the match.
Pakistan under the leadership of Mustaq Mohammad, Pakistan hit back against India in Siakot, where they bundled Men in Blue on meager total 79 runs.
It was all down to third and last ODI, which had to wait for three weeks.
As the tour was unique, 2 ODI was followed by 2 Test matches and last ODI was kept ahead of last Test match.
Eventually it move down to Test series, whereas India imposed Draw in first match followed by dominant victory by Men in Green against India by 8 wickets.
Ahead of last Test match, final ODI was played in Sahiwal area in Pakistan known for its breed of cows.
The town was especial for Kapil Dev as his father belongs to that place ahead of partition.
Dev described his experience of visiting that place, as people who known his father, were fondly talking about him as the ace player mentioned this in his autobiography.
Little people knew that incident on 4th November 1978, would go down as one of the most controversial matches among India and Pakistan.
Pakistan batted first and scored 205 runs at the loss of 7 wickets in 40 Overs quota.
Asif Iqbal from Pakistan rattled brilliant 62 runs from 72 balls.
In reply, India started replying with bat with Surinder Amarnath, scored 62 runs from 75 balls complemented by Anshuman Gaikwad (78 runs) and Gundapa Vishwanath(8 runs) were batting on the crease.
Another 23 runs were needed by India in last 18 balls to steal victory against Pakistan.
Then something ugly happened, where Pakistani pacer Sarfaraz Nawaz bowled four back to back bouncers in a row all those deliveries were impossible to reach for Indian batters.
But Pakistani Umpires(Khizer Hayat & Javed Akhtar)refused to call these deliveries as wides.
Back then, India’s Top Sports Journalist KN Prabhu working for Times of India wrote ” This is really an unfortunate incident in Cricket History as per rules those over bouncer deliveries bowled by Sarfaraz Nawaz, is not in the interest of the game as the ball was way beyond batsman reach it was not called a legitimate call”
Mohinder Amarnath described this incident as worst moment and that incident completely irked Indian skipper Bishan Singh Bedi called batters back to pavilion.
PCB officials suggested to Indian skipper Bedi to send someone who is more taller to counterattack bouncers which was declined as Indian batters didn’t enter the ground and Pakistani Umpire completely cheating in that game ensured that Pakistan won the game and series by 2-1.
However, it looked like India would not play last test match and we might not see these two powerhouse again playing any bilateral series.
Ultimately he was pacified and India went on to play last test match, and back then Prime Minister Moraji Desai and External Minister Atal Vihari Vajpyee thanked Bedi for his steward leadership.
This match between India and Pakistan would certainly go down as one of the worst game where Men in Green umpires cheated against India.
