India and Pakistan are among the top teams in international cricket. The two Asian giants have faced each other multiple times in all three formats of the game and have been part of many iconic matches and moments. But due to political reasons, unlike the past, now these two sides face each other only in ICC and continental events. The last time they played a bilateral series against each other was way back in 2012, when Pakistan travelled to India for a three-match T20I and three-match ODI series. India and Pakistan haven’t played a Test match against each other since 2007.
The India-Pakistan Test matches used to be iconic clashes, with numerous stories revolving around them. And during a recent interview, former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal opened up about one such incident that took place during the 2005 Test series in India.
Speaking to Nadir Ali on his YouTube channel, Kamran, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, recalled an incident from the 2005 Mohali Test and told an untold story that involved former India captain Sourav Ganguly and former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik. He recalled how Malik got engaged in an epic mind game with Ganguly and plotted his dismissal by distracting him.
He said that when Ganguly hammered Danish Kaneria’s loose delivery for a four, Malik, who was fielding at silly mid-on, mocked him by saying that he must be under pressure as he hit that delivery for a four instead of a six. According to Akmal, while Malik directed those words at him, he was pointing at Ganguly to try and distract him, and he was successful in his mission as well, as on the very next ball, Ganguly got out, which left him furious at Malik.
“In 2005 Mohali Test match, Danish (Kaneria) bowled and Shoaib Malik was at silly mid-on, and Salman Butt was at silly mid-off. Danish missed the length. Sourav Ganguly was at strike and scored a boundary. Shoaib Malik said, ‘Dekha Kamran, kitna pressure hain Dada pe, chakke wala bowl pe chauka mara. (Did you see Kamran? It seems like Dada is under pressure. That ball should have been hit for a six instead of four)’ Ganguly stepped out of the crease to hit the next ball, and he was stumped out. Before leaving, he told Malik, ‘Tu bohut tez hai, tujhe me chhodunga nahi, tu bahar aa’,” he said.
The incident described by Kamran occurred during the first innings of the first Test in Mohali. In that match, which was played from March 8 to 12, 2005, Ganguly scored 21 runs, but instead of getting stumped, the left-handed batter was caught by Butt.
