India and Pakistan are historic rivals. Over the years, there have been a number of memorable Ind vs Pak Asia Cup matches between the two teams, and also a number of Ind vs Pak Asia Cup fights. Today we have a look at some memorable scuffles between these two arch-rivals, both in the Asia Cup and in other series and tournaments.
Asia Cup
Let’s have a look at some popular Ind vs Pak Asia Cup scuffles and Ind vs Pak Asia Cup fights.
Ind vs Pak Asia Cup Fights – Gautam Gambhir and Kamran Akmal
The on-field scuffle between India opener Gautam Gambhir and Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal is probably the most well-remembered of Ind vs Pak Asia Cup fights. In the 10th Ind vs Pak Asia Cup match of 2010, India were chasing a target of 268 runs.
In the 34th Over of the game, Gautam Gambhir looked to nudge the last ball of off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. He missed the ball completely but Kamran Akmal went up in an animated appeal. Gambhir was visibly irritated by the appeal and the two engaged in a fierce exchange in the drinks break that followed.
Ind vs Pak Asia Cup Fights – Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar
In the same game of the 2010 Asia Cup, as spoken about above, Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh got involved in a heated exchange with legendary fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. Harbhajan walked in when India was in a tense situation, needing 49 off 5 overs.
Shoaib Akhtar was up in Singh’s ears trying to induce a mistake from him. Singh replied with a huge six off Mohammad Amir in the last over of the game, which won India the match. Singh let out an emphatic roar with his arms spread wide and addressed Akhtar.
Ind vs Pak Asia Cup Fights – Ishan Kishan and Haris Rauf
India and Pakistan faced each other twice in the Asia Cup 2023. In the first Ind vs Pak Asia Cup 2023 game, Indian batter Ishan Kishan and Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf were engaged in an on-field exchange. Kishan batted splendidly against a potent Pakistani pace attack, scoring 82 runs off 81 balls.
He was finally dismissed by Haris Rauf. As Kishan was walking back to the pavilion, Rauf let out an emphatic roar and pointed towards the dressing room, a gesture that was not well received by the cricketing community, especially Indian fans. Kishan, in a show of great humility, did not react and retired to the dressing room.
Ind vs Pak Asia Cup Fights – Shahid Afridi and Ravichandran Ashwin
In the 2014 Ind vs Pak Asia Cup game, Pakistan were chasing a total of 246 runs. Pakistan were in a spot of bother with 10 runs needed from the last over. Ravichandran Ashwin brought the last over and Saeed Ajmal was bowled out on the very first ball. Shahid Afridi stood at the other end. Pakistan had just one wicket left. Junaid Khan managed to give the strike to Shahid Afridi.
Afridi, in his very own style, smashed two sixes winning the game for Pakistan by just 1 wicket. Ashwin was dejected while Afridi spread his arm out in celebration. The Pakistan team ran to the crease to embrace Afridi. His celebration carried a veiled message for India who had celebrated similarly when Harbhajan had won the game in a similar fashion in Asia Cup 2010.
Ind vs Pak Asia Cup Fights – Iftikhar Ahmed
India and Pakistan faced each other twice in Asia Cup 2022. Pakistan won the second encounter while India won the first. The second Ind vs Pak Asia Cup 2022 game was a close one. Arshdeep Singh was tasked with defending 7 runs in the last over. He did very well, giving away just 5 runs in the first 4 balls and picking up the wicket of Asif Ali.
He couldn’t, however, win India the game as Iftikhar Ahmed drilled the 5th ball of the over straight over the bowler’s head and ran two runs. Iftikhar was pumped and punched the air in delight, as Khusdil Shah leaped in joy at the other end. A dejected Arshdeep slapped the bails off the stumps. This was not one of the Ind vs Pak Asia Cup fights but was a game that was marked with aggression and vengeance from Pakistan.
Other Series And Tournaments
Having talked of Ind vs Paki Asia Cup fights, let’s now have a look at some scuffles between the Indian and Pakistani sides in other series and tournaments.
Aamer Sohail and Venkatesh Prasad
This is probably the most popular scuffle between an Indian and a Pakistani player. In the ICC ODI World Cup of 1996, India and Pakistan were up against each other at Bengaluru. Pakistan were chasing a total of 288 runs. Pakistani star batter Aamer Sohail was in great touch.
The southpaw creamed Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary over covers on the 5th ball of the 15th. He gestured to Prasad that he would hit the next ball there too. The match hung in balance and an aura of aggression and restlessness captured the stadium. Venkatesh Prasad kept his cool and uprooted Sohail’s off stump on the very next ball, directing him towards the pavilion.
Kiran More and Javed Miandad
In the 1992 ODI World Cup, India and Pakistan were up against each other in Sydney. Pakistan were chasing a target of 217 runs. Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More was up in the ears of Pakistan batter Javed Miandad, trying to disrupt the concentration. In the 25th over, More and Miandad exchanged a few words and Miandad mimicked Kiran More by doing three frog jumps to get back into the crease on the last ball of the over.
Gautam Gambhir and Shahid Afridi
Gautam Gambhir and former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi have often engaged in on-field scuffles. In the 2007 Pakistan tour of India, Shahid Afridi was bowling against Gambhir. Gambhir smashed the leg spinner for a boundary and the two players engaged in a staredown. A few words were exchanged.
Gambhir nudged the next ball for a single. Shahid Afridi stood in his path and Gambhir collided against him. The two were up in each other’s faces and the on-field umpires had to get involved to calm the players down. Play could resume only after a long interval.
Kamran Akmal Ishant Sharma
Also Read: Asia Cup 2023: India vs Pakistan Controversial moments in Asia Cup
Kamran Akmal has often found himself in arguments with Indian players. In an India vs Pakistan match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2012, Indian pacer Ishant Sharma and Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal found themselves in a heated exchange.
Ishant was allegedly hurling abuses at the wicketkeeper batter and Kamran Akmal retaliated with more abuse. The episode got ugly, as other players like MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina had to rush in to calm the players down.
MS Dhoni and Shoaib Akhtar
Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is hailed for his coolness on the field. However, he has also been involved in ugly exchanges a few times in his long career. In the second Test of India’s tour of Pakistan in 2006, Shoaib Akhtar was in the middle of a fiery spell at Faisalabad.
He bowled a barge of bouncers aimed at MS Dhoni but the batter never lost his cool. Dhoni countered with a number of uppercuts and hooks which enraged Akhtar. Akhtar ran in and bowled a head-high beamer, which many believed to be deliberate. There were a few words exchanged between the players.
