India vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2024: ‘Aloo’ Inzamam to Shoaib blocking Sachin – India-Pakistan cricket controversies

This is a rivalry that generates a lot of heat, on and off the pitch. From Asif Iqbal’s controversial call at the toss before a Test match in 1980, Inzmam-ul-Haq charging at an Indian fan who had called him ‘Aloo [Potato]’ in Toronto and Shoaib Akhtar apparently blocking Sachin Tendulkar and eventually forcing a run-out — there were many incidents that caused flare-ups in India-Pakistan matches.

Truth be told, most of these issues died down pretty early so as to not cause any permanent bad blood between the players of the two countries. But it also can’t be denied that they generated a lot of talk when they took place. The Sachin-Shoaib collision, in particular, led to massive crowd unrest at Eden Gardens in a Test in 1999 that India eventually lost.

And then, throw in these tales like Wasim Akram pulling out of the World Cup quarter-final in 1996, Venkatesh Prasad uprooting the stumps of Aamer Sohail after being insultingly gestured at right before that delivery in the same match, and Navjot Singh Sidhu brandishing his bat like a sword at Sohail in Sharjah — there are many stories that made headlines beyond the wins and losses.

With time, nerves have smoothened, the temperamental explosions have reduced and the degree of tension has come down noticeably. These cricketers are asked to behave as ambassadors of the two countries and that’s what they do. Still, an amount of tension bordering on controversy lingers when it comes to India versus Pakistan. Nobody wants it, but it’s unavoidable.