Like clockwork, India’s impending World Cup clash with Pakistan has caused one of cricket’s many statistical anomalies to circulate.
Pakistan have never beaten India in a World Cup match; you will no doubt have seen the numbers posted across social media platforms and news outlets this week. This is something that Pakistani cricket icon Wasim Akram is constantly reminded of every time the tournament takes place.
“Believe me, Indian channels have been reminding us of this every two minutes, all year round, for 35 years,” Akram told Fox Cricket.
“I just heard today on social media that we didn’t win a World Cup match (against India).”
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Akram was involved in three World Cup defeats against India, in 1992, 1999 and 2003, while the most recent encounter was an 89-run defeat at Old Trafford in 2019, when India were drawn by the legendary Ravi Shastri.
“If you know you are part of a team that has never overshadowed another team, that will concern you,” Shastri told Fox Cricket.
“You will remember it again and again. »
The one-sided nature of the India vs Pakistan World Cup competitions is particularly surprising when analyzing the overall ODI record between the rival nations. Out of their 134 encounters, Pakistan have won 73, while India have won only 53.
“They never show that,” Akram laughed.
Pakistan have a chance to break the 31-year-old World Cup curse when they take on India on Sunday evening at the 134,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both teams are undefeated heading into this blockbuster match, which is expected to be one of the most-watched sporting events of the year.
Meanwhile, more than 11,000 police officers will be deployed for the match due to ongoing security concerns.
“It’s going to be a madhouse,” Shastri said.
“The biggest crowd of the tournament will be there, the energy and the atmosphere will be electric.
“I think India start as clear favorites. Pakistan will have to bring their true A++++ game if they want to upset India, which they can. We know how unpredictable they can be.
This meeting marks a rare bilateral achievement for both nations. Their tense and fierce rivalry is fueled by nationalist sentiment and a complicated geopolitical history, including the 1947 partition and three bloody wars.
Pakistan have not played cricket in India for over seven years, while their South Asian neighbors have not faced each other in the Test arena since 2007; they never play bilaterally only in tournaments, and usually at neutral sites. For example, India refused to travel to Pakistan for last month’s Asia Cup, with Sri Lanka subsequently hosting the majority of the 50-over tournament.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board this week expressed its “extreme disappointment” over long delays in issuing Indian visas to journalists and fans. This comes after the Pakistan team received their visas less than 36 hours before they left for Hyderabad ahead of their first warm-up match against New Zealand.
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“I hope Pakistani fans can get visa to India easily,” Akram said.
“As a Pakistani, if I go to India, I need a visa for each city. If I get a visa for Delhi, I cannot go to Bombay. I can’t go to any other city. Same vice versa for Indians if they come to Pakistan.
“Pakistani people who travel to India will be beautifully looked after there, it is part of their culture.
“Indians welcome their cricket teams. I remember our tour in 1999, when there was a threat against us on that tour. We had presidential security. Everywhere we went, we were taken care of. The food is delicious, the hospitality is one of the best in the world.
Pakistan’s players received a warm welcome when they landed in Hyderabad last month, with adoring fans cheering outside the airport. Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan, who scored a century in Tuesday’s win over Sri Lanka, compared it to the reception they would expect after landing in Karachi.
Relations between India and Pakistan remain fragile and will not change anytime soon, but we hope that the World Cup will be a stepping stone towards building trust between the two nations.
“Sport is always a great healer,” Shastri continued.
The World Cup match between India and Pakistan begins on Sunday in Ahmedabad, with the first ball scheduled for 7:30 p.m. AEDT.
