5 biggest fights in India vs Pakistan matches

After a long time, India vs Pakistan clash is around the corner and the excitement among the cricket fanatics is at its peak. The defending champions, India, will lock horns with their arch-rivals, Pakistan, in a high-profile match of the Asia Cup, 2018 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 19th September.

India vs Pakistan rivalry is one of the most insane sports rivalries in the world. The passion and emotions run high among the players and fans from either side when the two neighbours meet. The drama and emotions go to such a level that sometimes it ends up in heated arguments and sledging.

Let us take a look at top 5 biggest fights in the history of India-Pakistan cricket matches

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#5 Kiran More vs Javed Miandad (16th Match, Benson & Hedges World Cup at Sydney, Mar 4, 1992)

The drama took place during the clash of arch-rivals at Sydney on March 4, 1992, in the Benson and Hedges World Cup. Javed Miandad was the Pakistani batsman on the crease and he was the biggest threat for India. In order to disrupt Javed Miandad's concentration levels, Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More kept on yelling encouragement for the bowlers on almost every ball.

Eventually, Miandad lost his cool and he exchanged a few words with More. But that didn't stop More from doing a few more animated antics with too many jumping appeals for Miandad's dismissal. Just when it became too much for Miandad to handle, he moved out of the crease and did three frog jumps back into the crease to mimic More’s animated appeals.

#4 Harbhajan Singh vs Shoaib Akhtar, 2010 (Match 4, Asia Cup at Dambulla, Jun 19, 2010)

The incident took place during the 4th match of Asia Cup 2010 on 19th June 2010 at Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, between Shoaib Akhtar and Harbhajan Singh. Batting first, Pakistan had set a target of 268 runs for India. India needed 16 runs to win off the last two overs with Suresh Raina and Harbhajan at the crease.

The Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar bowled the penultimate over, where Suresh Raina scored a Six off the first ball. Harbhajan too tried playing a pull shot off the last ball but failed to connect. Akhtar immediately went to Harbhajan and the two exchanged a few heated words that led to an ugly fight. When the play resumed, Raina was dismissed by Mohammad Aamir in the final over and the onus was then on Harbhajan Singh.

When India needed three runs off the final two balls, Harbhajan held his nerve and hammered the fifth ball over midwicket for a six to win the game for India.

#3 Venkatesh Prasad vs Aamir Sohail (ICC World Cup, 2nd quarter-finals at Bengaluru, Mar 9, 1996)

It was the 2nd Quarter-final of the ICC World Cup, 1996 between India and Pakistan at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on 9th March 1996. India posted a mammoth total of 287 runs on the board with the help of Navjot Singh Sidhu's brilliant 93.

Pakistan was asked to chase down 288 runs to win the match. Opener Aamer Sohail smashed Venkatesh Prasad for a boundary through covers and then gestured towards Prasad to go and fetch the ball from the boundary rope. Provoked by Sohail's antics, Prasad gave a fitting reply by uprooting Sohail's off stumps on the very next ball and signalling the batsman to walk off the field.

#2 Gautam Gambhir vs Shahid Afridi (3rd ODI, Pakistan tour of India at Kanpur, Nov 11, 2007)

It was one of the biggest cricket fights during an India-Pakistan match. The incident occurred during the 3rd ODI of Pakistan tour of India at Kanpur on 11th November 2007.

Afridi was bowling to Gambhir. Gambhir smashed him for a four and immediately exchanged a few words with him. On the next ball, Gambhir played the ball down the ground and on his way to a single, ran into Afridi.

The collision led to an ugly argument and the play only resumed after the intervention of the on-field umpires.

#1 Gautam Gambhir and Kamran Akmal (Match 4, Asia Cup at Dambulla, Jun 19, 2010)

That was 4th match of Asia Cup 2010 between India and Pakistan at Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. Batting first, Pakistan had set a target of 268 for India. When India were marching towards the win, Pakistani wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal kept on making caught behind appeals and trying to convince the umpire that the batsman had edged the ball.

After holding back for some time, Gambhir charged towards Akmal and things got heated. The play resumed only when the Indian skipper MS Dhoni and the on-field umpires intervened to calm down the players.