Pakistani cricket team in India in 1998–99

Background

The Pakistan team were to tour India after 12 years. It was reported in October 1998 that the tour would include three Tests and five One Day International (ODI) matches. The squad was scheduled to leave for India on 21 January 1999 with the opening Test starting on 3 February and the tour would wind up after the final ODI to be played on 15 March. It was later reported that the three Tests would be played in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Madras (now Chennai) and Bangalore, and the ODIs (now reduced to three) in Mohali, Cuttack and Kanpur.

However, threat of disruption by certain militant groups in response to the alleged Pakistani involvement in insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir meant the tour lay in jeopardy. Security for the touring party was assured by India's Prime Minister. In January 1999, headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India was vandalized and activists of the Shiv Sena party dug up the wicket at the first Test venue in New Delhi, causing the match to be moved to the southern city of Madras (now Chennai). Some activists also protested at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi against the tour. However, the Pakistan squad arrived in New Delhi on 21 January after threats were withdrawn and India's Home Minister holding an emergency meeting. The number of Tests were reduced to two in the series, and another test to be played as part of the 1998–99 Asian Test Championship, and the ODI series cancelled. Pakistan came to India on the back of a better Test record against India — seven wins against four losses in 44 matches.

Squads

The Pakistan squad for the tour was named on 14 January 1999. The 16-member squad excluded Aamer Sohail with the uncapped Wajahatullah Wasti added as his replacement. Two weeks prior, Wasim Akram had been appointed captain and Moin Khan his deputy. A 14-member India squad was named on 21 January. Two players from the squad that toured New Zealand, batsmen Navjot Singh Sidhu and Ajay Jadeja were dropped. All-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla and opening bat Sadagoppan Ramesh were included. Fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, nursing an injury, was left out for the first Test.

Tour matches

Three-day: India A v Pakistan

| score-team1-inns1 = 334/6d (70.5 overs) | runs-team1-inns1 = Mohammad Yousuf 124 (156) | wickets-team1-inns1 = Dodda Ganesh 2/67 (17.5 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 276 (60.3 overs) | runs-team2-inns1 = Jacob Martin 72 (108) | wickets-team2-inns1 = Wasim Akram 5/55 (12.3 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 272 (84 overs) | runs-team1-inns2 = Saleem Malik 122 (225) | wickets-team1-inns2 = Laxmi Ratan Shukla 4/38 (19 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 111/5 (30 overs) | runs-team2-inns2 = Sadagoppan Ramesh 56 (78) | wickets-team2-inns2 = Saqlain Mushtaq 1/8 (4 overs)

Three-day: Board President's XI v Pakistan

| score-team1-inns1 = 247/9d (78.4 overs) | runs-team1-inns1 = Moin Khan 67 (76) | wickets-team1-inns1 = Laxmi Ratan Shukla 3/55 (12 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 282 (83.5 overs) | runs-team2-inns1 = Virender Sehwag 66 (83) | wickets-team2-inns1 = Nadeem Khan 4/87 (28 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 295/7d (91 overs) | runs-team1-inns2 = Saeed Anwar 99 (155) | wickets-team1-inns2 = K. N. Ananthapadmanabhan 5/80 (23 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 22/2 (10 overs) | runs-team2-inns2 = Mohammad Kaif 8* (12) | wickets-team2-inns2 = Shoaib Akhtar 2/17 (5 overs)

Test series

1st Test

| score-team1-inns1 =238 (79.5 overs) | runs-team1-inns1 =Moin Khan 60 (117) | wickets-team1-inns1 =Anil Kumble 6/70 (24.5 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 =254 (81.1 overs) | runs-team2-inns1 =Sourav Ganguly 54 (138) | wickets-team2-inns1 =Saqlain Mushtaq 5/94 (35 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 =286 (71.2 overs) | runs-team1-inns2 =Shahid Afridi 141 (191) | wickets-team1-inns2 =Venkatesh Prasad 6/33 (10.2 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 =258 (95.2 overs) | runs-team2-inns2 =Sachin Tendulkar 136 (273) | wickets-team2-inns2 =Saqlain Mushtaq 5/93 (32.2 overs)

2nd Test

| score-team1-inns1 =252 (91.5 overs) | runs-team1-inns1 =Mohammad Azharuddin 67 (134) | wickets-team1-inns1 =Saqlain Mushtaq 5/94 (35.5 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 =172 (64.3 overs) | runs-team2-inns1 =Shahid Afridi 32 (53) | wickets-team2-inns1 =Anil Kumble 4/75 (24.3 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 =339 (113.4 overs) | runs-team1-inns2 =Sadagoppan Ramesh 96 (227) | wickets-team1-inns2 =Saqlain Mushtaq 5/122 (46.4 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 =207 (60.3 overs) | runs-team2-inns2 =Saeed Anwar 69 (128) | wickets-team2-inns2 =Anil Kumble 10/74 (26.3 overs)

References

References

1. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/1/Pakistan_in_India_1998-99.html The Home of CricketArchive]
2. (22 October 1998). "Pakistan's tour of India is on, says Majid (23 October 1998)". ESPNcricinfo.
3. (1 November 1998). "Pak tour of India from 21 January (1 November 1998)". ESPNcricinfo.
4. (25 November 1998). "'No obstruction to Pakistan cricket team visiting India', says Vajpayee". ESPNcricinfo.
5. (18 January 1998). "Hindu Militant Storm Indian Cricket HQ (January 18 1998)". ESPNcricinfo.
6. (19 January 1999). "Indian cricket chief gives green light to Pakistan tour (19 January 1999)". ESPNcricinfo.
7. (21 January 1999). "Pakistan reach India as militants back off (21 January 1999)". ESPNcricinfo.
8. (4 January 1999). "Wasim Akram named captain for Indian tour (4 January 1999)". ESPNcricinfo.
9. (14 January 1999). "Pakistan names squad for Indian tour (14 January 1999)". ESPNcricinfo.
10. (21 January 1999). "India injects new blood into Test side (21 January 1999)". ESPNcricinfo.