The 1999 Asian Test Championship encounter between Pakistan and India which was played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata is one of the most unforgettable matches between the two arch-rivals. Pakistan shocked Indian fans in attendance by defeating India by 46 runs.
This match is remembered for two things, and both involved the Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar. Pakistan had batted first and posted 185 runs with Moin Khan making 70 and Javagal Srinath taking 5/46 for India.
In reply, India made 223 with S Ramesh top-scoring with 79 and Shoaib Akhtar stunned the crowd in Eden Gardens into silence as he first clean bowled Rahul Dravid with a yorker for 24 and then castled Sachin Tendulkar for a golden duck, his first in his Test career, the very next ball.
In the second innings, Pakistan fared better scoring 316 runs with Saeed Anwar carrying his bat for his Test career-best score of 188*, while Javagal Srinath took his Test career-best figures of 8/86 and 14 wickets for the match.
In reply, openers Ramesh and VVS Laxman added 108 runs chasing the target of 279 runs, but then Pakistani bowlers began their magic. As Sachin Tendulkar came on the field, a lot of hope hung on his shoulders.
However, he was controversially run out for 9 runs as he collided with Shoaib Akhtar near the return crease at the bowling end, which prevented him from making his ground, as the throw from the substitute fielder hit the stumps directly and he was found short of the crease and the TV umpire gave him out.
Here is the video of Tendulkar's runout:
This led to riots in the Eden Gardens as many felt Tendulkar was hard done and fires were lit in the stadium. Police had to lathi-charge the spectators as they threw stones at Pakistani fielders and created a ruckus.
It took Sachin Tendulkar himself to come out and calm the crowd down for the match to continue, which India eventually lost.
The captain of the Pakistan team in that match, Wasim Akram has recalled the incident in his autobiography: 'Sultan: A Memoir', and revealed that during the incident, he was approached by the match Cammie Smith and India legend Sunil Gavaskar.
“During the break, I was approached by the match referee with Sunil Gavaskar. 'Wasim, we think you should recall Sachin,' said Sunny. People will love you in India. Sunny knew how partisan the Kolkata crowd could be - he had once refused to play a Test there because he had been so badly barracked the previous time,” says Wasim in an excerpt from the book.
Akram then writes that he had to refuse Gavaskar’s request saying that while Indian fans will love him, the Pakistani fans back home would kill him if he let Tendulkar bat again. He also pointed out that the match had continued after Tendulkar’s dismissal and nothing could be done.
“But I had my own fans to worry about. 'Sunny bhai... they might love me in India but they'll hate me in Pakistan,' I said. 'Anyway, it's not my decision. The umpire has given him out. It's too late for me to withdraw the appeal. Play has continue. We all know it's an accident but cricket is full of accidents. It's not up to the captains to rectify,” Akram adds.
Saeed Anwar and Javagal Srinath were jointly named the Players of the Match for their respective performances.
