Credit: X
The mother of all battles will return with the fifth match of the Champions Trophy 2025 between Pakistan and India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23, 2025. In recent years, India have dominated the rivalry as the Men in Blue have looked superb against the green shirts. After 2008 Mumbai attacks, both sides are playing each other in multi-team tournaments and India have emerged tall against their neighbours.
However, Pakistan will look to turn the tables on Sunday and win their first ODI game against the 2013 champions for the first time in eight years. The hosts’ last ODI victory came against India in the Champions Trophy 2017 final. In recent times, bonhomie between players from two sides are getting witnessed a lot, either its field or outside the playing arena. However, the same didn't happen earlier as both teams had their hot-headed stalwarts who used to have verbal fights during games.
In this article, SportsTiger looks back at five controversial moments from the India-Pakistan rivalry:
5 controversial moments from IND vs PAK ODI matches
5. Gautam Gambhir versus Kamran Akmal
Current India head coach Gautam Gambhir was known for his fighting spirit during his playing days. Back in the Asia Cup 2010 game between India and Pakistan in Dambulla, the southpaw had a heated conversation with Kamran Akmal, who was serving Pakistan as a wicketkeeper-batter. In the second innings of the game, Akmal was seen appealing for a catch which irritated Gambhir and both were seen locking horns with each other. Akmal recalled the incident in 2022 and said the scuffle happened due to misunderstanding. Both Gambhir and Akmal have said they are good friends now and treat each other with respect.
4. Shoaib Akhtar versus Harbhajan Singh
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar was known for his aggression. While bowling, he used to shatter batters’ confidence by sledging them. However, Akhtar’s tactic went against him in the Asia Cup 2010 game between both Asian sides. In the penultimate over of the match, Akhtar bowled a bouncer to the spin wizard, who was in the middle with Suresh Raina.
With India requiring seven off the last over, Harbhajan was looking to make the task easy for his team but got no success. After the delivery, the two exchanged words but Harbhajan was the one who utilised his anger and took India home with a maximum against Mohammad Amir in the next over. India returned with a three-wicket victory and knocked out Pakistan from the competition.
3. Javed Miandad versus Kiran More
Back in 1992, India and Pakistan met each other for the first time in World Cups and the former bagged a 43-run win at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). During the game, an eye-grabbing incident happened as Pakistan legendary player Javed Miandad and India’s former wicket-keeper batter Kiran More were seen getting involved in a verbal tussle.
During Pakistan’s chase, More was seen appealing to the umpire for a catch on Sachin Tendulkar’s delivery which went down towards the leg side. However, the umpire refused to entertain More. After a few moments, More took the bails off in an attempt to run out Miandad, who was already behind the crease. This time, Miandad lost his cool and mocked More by jumping and screaming like his India rival.
2. Gautam Gambhir versus Shahid Afridi
Gautam Gambhir’s altercation with Shahid Afridi is one of the most-talked about incidents in the cricketing circle. In 2007, India handed Pakistan a 46-run defeat and took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. During the game, Shahid was seen struggling with the ball which led to his altercation with former top-order India batter. The incident occurred after Gambhir hit a four again and both were seen abusing each other.
The next delivery, Gambhir collided with Gambhir physically while stealing a run. This time, the matter worsened as both stood against each other and also used cuss words. The intervention of umpires defused the matter and following the game, Afridi was fined 95% of his match fee while Gambhir paid the penalty of 65% for breaching the ICC code of conduct.
1. Aamir Sohail versus Venkatesh Prasad
During the 1996 quarter-final between India and Pakistan in Bengaluru, an intriguing incident happened which still resides in cricket fans’ memories. With the task of following 288 runs in 49 overs, the Men in Green accumulated 113 runs within 15 overs. On the fifth delivery of the 15th over, Aamir Sohail hit a four against pacer Venkatesh Prasad and sledged him with the bat directing towards the boundary.
According to Sohail, he was telling Prasad that he will hit the speedster again towards that side. Sohail’s words brought the best out of Prasad as he cleaned up the southpaw and brought India back into the match. Following Sohail’s departure, Pakistan collapsed and surrendered on 248 runs in their 49 overs.
