Like clockwork, the impending India vs Pakistan World Cup clash has prompted the circulation of one of cricket’s many statistical anomalies.
Pakistan has never beaten India in a World Cup match; you’ll no doubt have seen the numbers plastered over social media platforms and media outlets this week. It’s something Pakistan cricket icon Wasim Akram is constantly reminded of whenever the tournament rolls around.
“Believe me, Indian channels remind us of this every two minutes, all year around, for the last 35 years,” Akram told Fox Cricket.
“I just heard today on social media there were saying we haven’t won a game in a World Cup (against India).”
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Akram featured in three of the World Cup defeats against India, in 1992, 1999 and 2003, while the most recent encounter was an 89-run loss at Old Trafford in 2019, when India was coached by the legendary Ravi Shastri.
“If you know that you’re in a team that’s never upstaged another team, that will play on your mind,” Shastri told Fox Cricket.
“You will reminded of it time and time again.”
The one-sided nature of India vs Pakistan World Cup contests is particularly surprising when analysing the overall ODI record between the rival nations. Of their 134 encounters, Pakistan has won 73, while India has won just 53.
“They never show that,” Akram laughed.
Pakistan has an opportunity to break the 31-year World Cup curse when they take on India at Ahmedabad’s 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday evening. Both sides are undefeated heading into the blockbuster match, expected to be one of the most-watched sporting events of the year.
Meanwhile, more than 11,000 police will be deployed for the match due to lingering 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 believe India start as clear favourites. Pakistan will have to bring their real A++++ game if they want to upset India, which they can. We know how unpredictable they can be.”
The fixture marks a rare bilateral achievement for the two nations. Their tense and fierce rivalry is fuelled by nationalist sentiment and a complicated geopolitical history, including the 1947 Partition and three bloody wars.
Pakistan has not played cricket in India for more than seven years, while the south Asian neighbours haven’t faced each other in the Test arena since 2007; they never play bilaterally only in tournaments, and typically on at neutral venues. 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 “extreme disappointment” following lengthy delays in issuing Indian visas for journalists and fans. It comes after the Pakistan team received its visas less than 36 hours before the squad was due to fly to Hyderabad ahead of their first warm-up match against New Zealand.
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“I hope Pakistani fans can get an easy visa to India,” Akram said.
“As a Pakistani, if I go to India, I need a visa for every city. If I get a visa for Delhi, I can’t go to Bombay. I can’t go to any other city. Same vice versa for Indians if they come to Pakistan.
“Pakistanis who travel to India, they’re going to get looked after there beautifully, that’s part of their culture.
“Indians do welcome their cricket teams. I remember when we toured in 1999 when there was a threat to us on that tour. We had presidential security. Wherever we went, we got looked after. The food is amazing, the hospitality is one of the best in the world.”
The Pakistan players received a warm reception upon landing in Hyderabad last month, with adoring fans cheering outside the airport. Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan, who scored a century during Tuesday’s victory over Sri Lanka, compared it to the welcome they’d expect after touching down in Karachi.
India-Pakistan relations remain fragile, which won’t change anytime soon, but the World Cup will hopefully prove a stepping stone in building trust between the two nations.
“Sport is always a great healer,” Shastri continued.
The World Cup match between India and Pakistan gets underway in Ahmedabad on Sunday, with the first ball scheduled for 7.30pm AEDT.
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