When a Captain Lost His Temper and the Match

World Cup Classics: 2nd quarter final - India v Pakistan, Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, 9 March 1996

Amid news of scandalous withdrawal of Wasim Akram just before the toss and possibility of a riot and ensuing danger to Pakistan players in case India lost, this match was played in intense heat of emotions and looked like more than just a cricket match.

It was a poorly envisioned tournament which started with a number of meaningless games played over three weeks and then suddenly took off like a space rocket eliminating team after team within about a week to culminate in a rather memorable finale. Number 3 from group A, India played number 2 from group B Pakistan, in a historical Quarter-final which was publicized as the most important game of the World Cup.

Wasim Akram’s last minute retreat meant Amir Sohail was to captain a Pakistan team comprising seniors such as Ijaz Ahmed, Saleem Malik and Javed Miandad and without having much time to gather his thoughts. On top of that Pakistan went into the match with defensive frame of mind having lost their regular captain and premier bowler. Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss and wasted no time in opting to bat. Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar put on 90 runs in 21.1 overs for the first wicket but it was not a usual Tendulkar innings. Pakistan attack lead by Waqar Younis kept the scoring rate under check. Sidhu was undone 7 short of hundred by a lovely Mushtaq flipper with India on 168 in the 37th over. Pakistan did not put enough pressure on the batsmen as a result Azhar and Vinod Kambli increased the run rate by taking quick singles and a few boundaries. When Rashid took a stunning one-handed catch diving low to his right off Waqar’s bowling to dismiss dangerous looking Azhar, India needed a cameo from one of their remaining batsmen to put a tough total on the board. India was 202 for 4 after 42 overs and the projected total was expected to be around 260.

In came Ajay Jadeja who was to write a new chapter in India-Pakistan Classics let alone in the World cup history. India were 236 after 47 overs when Jadeja surprised Pakistan as well as himself by hitting Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed to all corners of the ground. Waqar was plundered for 22 runs in the 48th over by Jadeja and Anil Kumble who used his aggressive length to their advantage magnificently. The last over also cost Waqar 18 runs. Despite changing length he could not stop Jadeja who was running riot. The six he hit over Waqar’s head while playing on back-foot was as stunning a shot as it could be. He made 45 off 25 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Waqar and Aaqib gave away 67 runs taking 2 and 1 wicket respectively. India ended on 287 for 8 and confident to topple Pakistan who were bewildered and demoralized by the onslaught.

When Pakistan started their innings, Amir Sohail and Saeed Anwar went hard at the seamers from the outset and wrested the advantage back in no time. Saeed was at his usual silky best using his wrists to create gaps as well as timing the ball crisply for fours and sixes. Amir used the crease beautifully to hit flurry of fours square of the wicket on both sides and also engaged the bowlers with his gesticulations. Early introduction of Kumble made no difference as Saeed launched him handsomely over long on into the crowd. Pakistan raced to 84 in 10 overs and pressure of the occasion shifted from Pakistan to India as the match hung in balance.

Saeed departed after making a quick-fire 48 off 32 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Amir continued to play aggressively but his aggression turned into unintelligent blitheness when he started needless verbalism with Venkatesh Prasad. Obviously instigated by something muttered by the bowler he made way and smacked a short of length delivery to the extra cover boundary with contempt. Prasad bowled the next one a lot fuller albeit on the same line but Amir having lost his temper and hence acumen tried to repeat the dose only to see the off stump cart wheeling behind him. Naturally Prasad was delirious but having won the mental battle he hurled some foul remarks towards Amir . This necessitated intervention from the umpire David Shepherd to control the flowing emotions on the field. Amir having provided a dream start left Pakistan at a crucial stage when he could have played a captain’s knock and ensured they reach as close to the target as possible.

The batsmen who followed were quite capable of controlling the game from there on but failed to deliver. Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq departed early leaving Pakistan at a wobbly 134 for 4. Javed Miandad who was earlier fielded deep into the boundary by Amir to ensure his authority remain uncontested, was surprisingly slotted at number six. He along with Saleem Malik stopped the slide but the asking rate was mounting constantly. The asking rate was 7.2 when Malik got out at 184 in the 36th over. Some one had to replicate Jadeja’s innings but Rashid Latif’s cameo did not last long enough for Pakistan. He hit a few lusty blows but was stumped off Venkatapathy Raju at a stage when the crowd had been silenced by Pakistan’s fight-back. The noise of the crowd became louder and deafening when Miandad was run out for 38. The resistance had died down with the departure of Latif and Pakistan ended at 248 for 9 falling short by 39 runs. It was tough match for India for the major part but a comprehensive and memorable win in the end. Prasad and Kumble shared 3 wickets. Sidhu was declared the Man of the Match.

The real heroes for India were Jadeja and Prasad who performed brilliantly at the crucial stages of the match. Pakistan, on the other hand were left ruing the crucial absence of their regular captain Wasim Akram and a moment of brain-explosion by the stand-in captain Amir Sohail. Even though India were to be knocked out in the semi-final but this victory was to provide them solace and satisfaction for the times to come.