Super-charged atmosphere for long-awaited Ashes of Asia
Kuldip Lal
21 January 1999
NEW DELHI, Jan 21 (AFP) - Only the prospect of Indian batting genius
Sachin Tendulkar taking on feared pace duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar
Younis can overcome the countroversy surrounding Pakistan's tour.
The 12-year wait will finally be over on Saturday when Pakistan begin
their first Test tour of India since 1987 -- notwithstanding threats
by Hindu militants to disrupt matches.
There are few rivalries in international sport more intense than
between Pakistan and India in cricket, the sub-continent's version of
the Ashes between England and Australia. Protests by Hindu militants
have only heightened interest in both countries.
The two-Test series and the opening match of the Asian Test
chamionships promise much, even though both teams are struggling to
overcome poor form and embarrassing recent defeats.
Pakistan come to India after being tamed in their own backyard, first
by Mark Taylor's mighty Australians and then quite unexpectedly by
unfancied Zimbabwe.
India, who have won just one Test match abroad since 1986 despite an
enviable home record, went to New Zealand hoping to change the trend.
They once again returned empty-handed.
The last time the arch-rivals faced-off in a Test series was in 1989
in Pakistan. They have not played a Test on Indian soil since March,
1987.
Players from both sides will be eager to make up for lost time.
Tendulkar, one of the game's leading batsmen, made his Test debut at
16 in Pakistan in 1989. He played in all four drawn Tests but has
since been denied a chance to test his skills against Akram and
Younis.
Tendulkar, skipper Mohammad Azharuddin and Navjot Sidhu are the only
Indians to have experienced the overcharged atmosphere of an
Indo-Pakistan Test.
Pakistan also have only three players -- Akram, Younis and Salim Malik
-- who have played against India.
''The team which holds it's nerves in the tension will win,'' predicts
Indian legend Kapil Dev, Test cricket's leading bowler.
''It's a different experience altogether playing against Pakistan. You
can sense the tension in the air,'' said Kapil, who himself made his
international debut against Pakistan in 1978.
Kapil will be the focus of Akram's attention since the Pakistani
all-rounder has made no secret of his desire to chase the Indian's
world record of 434 Test wickets.
''I am hungry for Kapil's record,'' the 32-year-old Akram, who has 354
wickets from 83 Tests, was quoted as saying before the tour.
Akram also knows a victory against India is important in the battle to
clear his name of betting and match-fixing charges at home.
''He has everything to play for,'' a Pakistani journalist said. ''A
victory against India is the ultimate achievement and it will not be
easy to punish Akram if he manages that.''
India's last defeat in a home series was in 1987 against Imran Khan's
Pakistanis, who scored a thrilling 17-run win in the final Test at
Bangalore after the first four matches were drawn.
Akram, who played in that series, said last week he was confident of
repeating the feat against the battle-fatigued Indian team led by
Mohammad Azharuddin.
The Indians go into the series after a back-breaking schedule since
September which has seen them play in Canada, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and
New Zealand without a break.
The Indians, who returned from New Zealand on Thursday, have a week's
rest before the first of two back-to-back Tests at Madras and New
Delhi from January 28.
India and Pakistan have played 44 Tests since their first encounter in
1952, with India winning four, Pakistan seven and 33 ending in draws.
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