Pakistan’s previous Test Series in India by Arshad Chughtai

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Event:

Pakistan in India 2004/05

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DateLine: 10th March 2005

 

The first Test match of the current series between Pakistan and India started in Mohali on March 8, 2005. Prior to the current Test Series Pakistan had played 6 Test series in India (1952-53, 1960-61, 1979-80, 1983-1987 and 1999-2000). Out of these Pakistan won the 1987 series while India won in 1952-53 and 1979-80 with the remaining all drawn. In the 1999 series Pakistan did hold the edge over India but the two-match series was drawn 1-1. Later they also won the first Test of Asian Test Championship played in Kolkata. Let us look at a brief review of Pakistan’s previous Test series in India:

 

1952-53
India had sponsored Pakistan's membership of the then Imperial Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan played their inaugural Test series against them in the winter of 1952-53. The team was all debutants except for AH Kardar and Amir Elahi who had previously appeared for India before partition in 1947. Lala Amarnath led the home team and Kardar the visitors. India won the first test at Delhi by an innings and 70 runs. VMH Mankad captured 13 for 131 and India's last wicket pairing, HR Adhikari (81*) and Ghulam Ahmed (50) added 109 runs in a record partnership.
In the second Test in Lucknow, Nazar Mohammad (124) carried his bat in Pakistan’s innings and Fazal Mahmood claimed 12 for 96 as the new entrants in Test cricket won the second Test match they played, by an innings and 43 runs.
India won the third Test in Bombay (Mumbai) convincingly by 10 wickets, VS Hazare and PK Umrigar scored centuries.
The fourth and fifth Tests in Madras and Calcutta ended drawn and India won the series 2-1.

 

1960-61
Fazal Mahmood led Pakistan for the second tour to India. The was of such great importance that the trials were witnessed by President Ayub Khan.
Nariman Contractor led the home team. Pakistan enjoyed the luxury a strong batting lineup which included Hanif Mohammad, Saeed Ahmed, Imtiaz Ahmed, Mushtaq Mohammad, Javed Burki, Alimuddin, Wallis Mathias and Ijaz Butt. The Indians too had great stalwarts like Umrigar, VL Manjrekar, CG Borde, NJ Contractor, PK Roy, AA Baig and ML Jaisimha. All the five Tests were drawn. Pakistan only had a slim chance of victory in Calcutta but in Delhi they only escaped certain defeat through resolute batting by tail-enders, Mahmood Hussain, Haseeb Ahsan and Mohammad Farooq.
During the series, Saeed Ahmed (2), Hanif Mohammad (1), Imtiaz Ahmed (1) and Mushtaq Mohammad (1) scored centuries for Pakistan while Umrigar (3) and Borde (1) were the centurions for the home team.

 

1979-80
India won this Test series 2-0. Asif Iqbal led Pakistan and SM Gavaskar the home team. Pakistan lost the third Test in Bombay by 131 runs and the fifth in Madras by 10 wickets. For Pakistan, pace bowler Sikander Bakht bowled admirably to claim 11 for 190 (Delhi), 7 for 85 (Bombay) and 5 for 56 at Kanpur. Iqbal Qasim took 10 for 175 in the Bombay Test. Mudassar Nazar (126), DB Vengsarkar (146*) SM Gavaskar (166), scored centuries. Kapil Dev claimed 11 for 146 in Madras. Asif Iqbal bowed out of cricket after this series.

 

1983
After their 0-3 drubbing in the early part of the year in Pakistan the India drew the return home series against Pakistan all the matches drawn. Zaheer Abbas led Pakistan and Waseem Bari was his deputy. The Indians had Kapil Dev as their new skipper who also holds the distinction to help win them the 1983 World Cup. At Bangalore SM Gavaskar scored 103*, RMH Binney 83, S Madan Lal 74 and AD Gaekwad 66* and for Pakistan, Javed Miandad scored 99 and Wasim Bari 64. At Jullundar AD Gaekwad scored 201 and Wasim Raja 125. At Nagpur offspinner Mohammad Nazir claimed 2 for 50 and 5 for 72.

 

1987
Imran Khan led Pakistan and Kapil Dev the hosts. The first four Test matches at Madras, Calcutta, Jaipur and Ahmedabad were drawn. Later Pakistan recorded a thrilling and dramatic 16-run win the fifth and final Test at Bangalore for their first series win in India. In the low-scoring match, Pakistan’s spin duo of Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed took 18 wickets, yet Sunil Gavaskar’s 96 was a tremendous knock in a close contest. Earlier in Madras, Shoaib Mohammad (101), Imran Khan (135) and K Sirikkanth (123) scored centuries. At Calcutta and Jaipur, Mohammad Azharuddin hit centuries. In Ahmedabad, Ijaz Faqih made his maiden century. This tour also made headlines for President General Zia-ul-Haq's visit to Jaipur to watch the Test in a gesture of diplomacy for peace.

 

1999
The tourists were led by Wasim Akram and the home team by Azharuddin. The two-Test series was drawn 1-1. Pakistan won a thrilling contest in Madras by 12 runs. Shahid Afridi (141) and Saqlain Mushtaq (10 for 187) starred. India's losing battle was gallantly fought by Sachin Tendulkar (136). India came back strongly in the next Test in Delhi to beat Pakistan by 212 runs as Anil Kumble became only the second bowler in history after England's Jim Laker to claim all ten wickets in a Test innings when he took 10 for 74 in Pakistan’s second. Saqlain Mushtaq again claimed 10 wickets in a match.

 

Asian Championship Test
Pakistan beat India by 46 runs in the Asian Championship Test in Kolkata. Saeed Anwar (188) carried his bat in Pakistan's second innings of 316 and Shoaib Akhtar captured 4 for 71 and 4 for 47 to help Pakistan earn a well-deserved victory.

 

Outlook for the current series
On paper India look more balanced and a formidable team with a strong batting line up as well as a skilled and versatile bowling attack. They also have the home advantage and crowd to support them. Yet the Pakistanis after their improved performance in the last few matches of the recent triangular tournament held in Australia, have boosted up their spirits and also won last three one-day internationals played against India. Thus all in all, a fascinating tussle seems to be on the cards.

 

Result Summary - Previous Tours
Test Matches
Tour	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn
1952-53	5	1	2	2
1960-61	5	0	0	5
1979-80	6	0	2	4
1983	3	0	0	3
1987	5	1	0	4
1999	2	1	1	0
Asian Champ:	1	1	0	0
Total	27	4	5	18

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
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