Pakistan’s previous matches in Bangalore by Arshad Chughtai

---

Ground:	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Scorecard:	India v Pakistan
Event:	Pakistan in India 2004/05

---

DateLine: 23rd March 2005

 

The third and final Test of the current series between India and Pakistan starts in Bangalore on 24th March. Prior to this Pakistan had played three Tests at Bangalore (1979-80, 1983 and 1987). Bangalore gained status of a Test centre in 1974-75 and the inaugural match was played against the West Indies in 1974-75.

 

During Pakistan’s tour of 1952-53 they had played a drawn game against a Combined Universities XI at Bangalore while again when they toured in 1960-61 they played yet another drawn match against the Indian Cricket Board President’s IX.

 

Pakistanis have very happy memories of Bangalore because that decisive match of the only series which they have won on the Indian soil to date was played at this vary city when the visitors won by 16 runs in a thrilling finish. The Pakistan team was the strongest outfit at that time. Unfortunately Pakistan will now be going in the current match under great pressure being already one down in the series. Obviously their target should be to win this Test and to square and save the series. However, under the circumstances it seems to be a very difficult proposition. Below is a brief review of Pakistan’s previous Test matches played at Bangalore:

 

1979-80: Karnataka Cricket Association Ground: 21-26 November 1979
It was the first match of the series which was marred by wet weather and ended in a draw. Asif Iqbal led Pakistan for the first time but it was also happened to be his last series as at the end he bowed out of the game. Pakistan won the toss and scored 431 for 9 declared mainly due to Mudassar Nazar (126), Javed Miandad (76), Asif Iqbal (55) and Wasim Bari (49*). Roger Binney and Etheshamuddin were the two debutants for India and Pakistan. On a lifeless pitch India replied with 416. Sunil Gavaskar (88), G.R. Vishawanath (73) and Yashpal Sharma (62) were the chief contributors. Only three-quarters of an hour’s play was permitted by rain on the penultimate day and the match petered out into a tame draw. Pakistan were 108 for 2 when the match concluded.

 

1983: M Chinnaswamy Stadium: 14 – 19 September
The morale of the Indian team was soaring on this occasion as they had won their World Cup a little earlier. Skipper Kapil Dev won the toss but India struggled to reach a total of 275 in the first innings. At one stage they were 6 down for 85 and Tahir Naqqash and Muddassar Nazar bowled in top form. Later Roger Binny (83*) and S.M. Madan Lal retrieved the situation. Tahir Naqqash claimed 5 for 76. In their turn Kapil Dev (5/68) and Madan Lal (3/72) restricted Pakistan to gain only a slender 13-run lead, despite a magnificent knock of 99 by Javed Miandad and Wasim Bari’s 64. Openers Sunil Gavasker (106) and Anshuman Gaekwad (66) collared Pakistan bowling to score 176 without loss in the second innings as the match ended in a draw. The result could be mainly attributed to bad weather as nearly seven hours of play had been lost by the end of the third day.

 

1987: M Chinnaswamy Stadium 13-17 March
Skipper Imran Khan won the toss but legspinner Maninder Singh played havoc with the Pakistan batting line-up to claim 7/27 in 18.2 overs which resulted in Pakistan being dismissed for their lowest ever total (116) in a Test match against India. In Pakistan’s fight-back, the spinning duo of Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed shared 5 wickets each and the Indians were restricted to only a 39-run lead. Pakistan applied themselves better in the second innings and displayed character and discipline to accumulate 249. Their last three wickets added 65 invaluable runs.

 

Subsequently, drama followed which may be best judged from the fact that at the end of the third day India were 99 for 4 and had 6 of their wickets intact and only 122 runs left to win with all the time in the world. That they could not do so and failed by a narrow margin of 16 despite a masterly farewell Test knock by Sunil Gavaskar of 96, goes mainly to the credit of superb spin bowling by Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmed. The two shared 4 wickets each. Tauseef Ahmed who opened with the new ball alongside Wasim Akram bowled untiringly for 45.5 overs - certainly a tremendous performance. The victory was a great triumph for Pakistan.

 

Summary of Results: Played: 3, Won: 1 & Drawn: 2.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2005 smyaserrafique@yahoo.com)