India vs. Pakistan: On the pitch

Long-time arch rivals India and Pakistan have been battling out with each other since the partition in 1947. The rivalry is further fueled due to the political clash between the two countries. The scuffle between them has led to the most intense and the most watches matches of all times in the world of cricket. Both Indian and Pakistani fans line up in front of television, radio or any other available media and make sure no ball goes unnoticed or uncommented.

Early Clashes & Causes

India and Pakistan separated in 1947, from where the political clash between the two began on the matter of Kashmir. Both political and diplomatic relations have been screwed up on the issue with a strong effect felt on the cricket pitch. The match between them is often equated to nothing short of a war and winning becomes more a matter of dignity than statistics.

For many early years, India and Pakistan played their matches on neutral grounds away from home in Canada or UAE (United Arab Emirates). Many matches were boycotted by one or both nations on security reasons. Some supporters make matters worse by taking it to heart at a loss by burning effigies of losing team or individual players. On the other end, a player that helps pull out a win against the opponents would be honored by the supporters as much as a national hero.

Historic Moments

Past 1999, after the Kargil War, the two teams had hence decided to meet each other on peaceful terms on field. The teams clashed against each other at the 1999 Cricket World cup with India winning the grand battle. The Group league match between them at the 2003 World Cup was a must watch with a memorable win for the Indians who went on to play Australia in the finals. India toured Pakistan in 2003-04 which invited a reciprocal tour by Pakistan in 2005. Again at the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup, the two teams faced each other and ended up in a tie. Both teams also played what is now known as a Friendship Cup at Canada in 1990s and early 2000s. Though India was planned to tour Pakistan in Early January, 2009, the series was cancelled due to the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 which sparked a new row of tensions between the two nations.

Statistics

Pakistan had scored the highest number of runs from an innings at 699 for 5 in December, 1989 while also scoring the lowest score of 116 in March 1987. Virender Sehwag has scored highest individual score at 309 and Kapil Dev has got the highest dismissals with 99 wickets. Best bowling figures stand for Anil Kumble in February, 1999 with 10 wickets for 74 runs. For ODI records, India leads the highest innings scores at 356 runs while Pakistan with the lowest innings scores at 87 runs. Saeed Anwar has scored the highest individual score of 194 runs and Wasim Akram has dismissed the most batsmen with 60 wickets. Best bowling figures are achieved by Aaqib Javed with 7 wickets for 37 runs.

As of records, India and Pakistan have shared a cricket ground for 59 tests of which India has won 9 and Pakistan has won 12 with the rest of them ending in a draw. India has played 118 one-day international matches against Pakistan and won 45 of them while losing 69. The rest 4 ended in a tie or no result. Of the 2 Twenty20 matches played by the two, India has won a match and ended the other in tie. Pakistan is leading the clash with the most number of wins against India.