Routing ‘em in Cricket, Hockey: Top India-Pakistan Clashes in 2016

The Quint takes a look at the top matches that saw the two sides square off against each other this year.

This year, political tension between India and Pakistan simmered, with heightened violence along the border and a series of terror attacks. The tension peaked after the Uri attack and the Indian Army’s surgical strikes across the border.

But despite the strained ties, the two neighbours served up some mouthwatering clashes in the sports arena in 2016. India and Pakistan locked horns yet again in a cricket world tournament in March, and faced off in the hockey Asian Champions Trophy in October.

The Quint takes a look at some of the pivotal matches that saw the two sides square off against each other this year.

T20, Asia Cup, February

The Indian cricket team faced Pakistan after a gap of just over a year in the Asia Cup at Mirpur, Bangladesh in February. The last time they had done battle before that was in the ODI World Cup in Australia in February 2015.

The Mirpur match is best remembered for the beautiful spell bowled by Pakistan speedster Mohammad Amir.

With India chasing a meagre total of 83 runs in the group match, Amir dismissed Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina within three overs. India were left tottering at 8/3.

But Virat Kohli (49) and Yuvraj Singh (14) then strung together a cautious partnership of 68 runs, helping India win the match by five wickets.

World T20, March

India had a perfect record in World T20s (3-0) going into the group match in this year’s World T20 in March at Kolkata.

But this face-off too turned out to be a low-scoring affair, with Pakistan putting up 118/5 at the end of the stipulated 18 overs. Two overs were reduced in the innings due to rain.

When the Indians came out to bat, Amir and Mohammad Sami wreaked mayhem and the home team was struggling at 23/3 in 4.4 overs. 

Big guns Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina were back in the hut by now. Then, the same pair that rescued India in the Asia Cup got together yet again. Virat Kohli (55) and Yuvraj (24) put together 61 runs, before Kohli and Dhoni wrapped up the match by the 16th over. India won the tame tie by six wickets.

South Asian Games – Hockey

As far as hockey was concerned, India began their campaign against Pakistan with two losses at the South Asian Games at Guwahati in February.

In the first match of the the round robin format, Muhammad Arslan Qadir scored both the goals for Pakistan in the 11th and 37th minutes. For the home side, captain Mandeep Antil found the back of the net in the 55th minute at the Moullana Tyabulla Stadium.

The teams met again in the final of the tournament, and it was Pakistan who pulled off another victory.

This time, there was only one goal scored in the match, which was netted by Awaisur Rehman in added time of the first half.

Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, April

By April, the Indian hockey team got their act together and had begun coming into their own. They thrashed Pakistan 5-1 in a round-robin fixture of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh, Malaysia in April.

First, SV Sunil helped Manpreet Singh score in the fourth minute of the match. But just three minutes later, Pakistan eqaliased through a penalty corner.

Then, Sunil struck twice – in the 10th and 41st minutes – before Talwinder Singh found India’s fourth goal in the 50th minute. Rupinder Pal Singh wrapped up the proceedings in the 54th minute.

Asian Champions Trophy, October

In October, India’s hockey stars pulled off a tremendous come-from-behind win against Pakistan in the league match of the Asian Champions Trophy in Malaysia.

First, Pradeep Mor put India on board in the 13th minute with his first international goal. But Pakistan soon raced to a 2-1 lead through goals from Muhammad Rizwan Sr in the 31st minute and Muhammad Irfan Jr in the 39th.

Rupinder Pal Singh found the equaliser in the 43rd minute and Ramandeep Singh wasted no time in scoring India’s third goal in the 44th minute to seal the match 3-2. 

The two teams played out another fierce match in the final of the tournament. This time, it was India who took a lead in the match, courtesy goals from Rupinder Pal Singh (18th minute) and Yousuf Affan (23rd minute).

Then, Muhammad Aleem Bilal (26th) and Ali Shaan (38th) found the back of the net for Pakistan and made it 2-2. When the match seemed to be heading into a penalty shootout, Nikkin Thimmaiah flicked the ball inside the right goal post in the 51st minute. India won the match 3-2 and clinched their second Asian Champions Trophy title.

Women's World T20, March

Before the men’s cricket team registered a defeat against Pakistan at the World T20, the Indian women’s cricket side lost a close match to their arch-rivals in the tournament.

India put up a woeful batting performance in the first innings. Right-hand batsman Veda Krishnamurthy top scored with 24 runs as India were bundled out for 96 runs.

When Pakistan came out to bat, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. By the end of the 16th over, they needed 20 more runs to win.

Then, rain graced the stadium, and by the Duckworth-Lewis method, India agonisingly lost the match by two runs.

Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup, November

The Indian women’s team was to play three matches against Pakistan between 1 August and 31 October. But with the cross-border tension on the rise at that time, India didn’t play any of the matches, The team was docked six points as a result.

However, the two teams met in the Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup twice in Bangkok in November and the women in blue got the better of Pakistan both times.

First, India and Pakistan played out a low-scoring match in the group stage. Nain Abidi’s 37* helped Pakistan post 97 in the first innings. India knocked off the runs in 19.2 overs, winning the match by five wickets. 

The teams faced off again in the final. This time, the Indians won comprehensively by 17 runs. Mithali Raj played a brilliant unbeaten innings of 73 runs off 65 balls and took India to a total of 121/5 at the end of 20 overs.

During Pakistan’s chase, the team kept losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually fell short by 17 runs. Pakistan’s captain Bismah Maroof top scored with 25 runs.