Kolkata (West Bengal): With cricket as a religion in both countries, India and Pakistan virtually have their eyes set on nothing else but the India-Pakistan clash in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera (earlier known as Sardar Vallabhai Patel Stadium) on Saturday, October 14th. The 22-yard strip is now at the centre of attraction for the whole of India and Pakistan.
Mind it, enjoying an overwhelming World Cup record of 7-0 against the arch-rivals doesn't even provide the narrowest of edges to the Men in Blue. It's a new day, a new match, and a new rivalry that is due for renewal at the Motera ground.
Let's take a look at how things panned out for the arch-rivals over the years in the ICC World Cup since 1992...
Rewinding the clock 29 years ago, the rivalry was brought to the dining tables of the households by two stalwarts of either side — Javed Miandad and Kiran More — whose on-ground antics not only lent the game a different dimension but upped the ante among the citizens of both the countries at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. India eventually won the fixture by 43 runs.
Four years later, the neighbours met again. This time Bengaluru was the venue where all the action took place between two uncanny characters, who were basically calm and cool in normal circumstances. The showdown began with Pakistani opener Aamer Sohail showing medium-pacer Venkatesh Prasad where he would hit him. The next delivery, Prasad returning the gesture in an agitated manner by dismissing Sohail has remained etched in our memories for as long as cricket buffs live. Again, India thumped Pakistan by 39 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The 1999 World Cup in England also ended in India's favour at a time when the Kargil War hit all the headlines on either side of the Line of Control (LoC). The stakes were high at Manchester when the two teams faced, but the on-field antics took a turnaround for good and Mohammed Azharuddin-led India once again ended on the winning note getting better of the rivals by 47 runs.