The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019’s biggest encounter has finally begun at the Old Trafford, Manchester where India are batting first against their arch-rivals Pakistan.
Both the teams are all in readiness for the game. Though who will be the winner shall only be decided later, the cricketing history between the two countries is completely in favour of India.
When Kargil and World Cup happened at the same time
In the year 1999, the ICC Cricket World Cup was held in the months of May and June. The time frame coincided with the Kargil War. The tension was immense between both the cricketing nations.
On the one side, soldiers were fighting it out for their countries, giving their lives for their countrymen. On the other side were cricket teams from the both the countries fighting it out on the World Cup stage.
Very few people at that time protested against this clash because of the political ties between the countries. India did not meet Pakistan in the group stage of the World Cup.
It was only during the Super-6 phase of the tournament that India first met Pakistan – on 8 June 1999. Mohammad Azharuddin led the Indian team while Wasim Akram was the Pakistan captain in 1999.
On-field battle
India won the toss and batted first. India made 227/6 in their designated 50 overs. Rahul Dravid top-scored with 61 runs, while Azhar made 59 and Sachin contributed 45.
Pakistan needed 228 runs to win the match; however, pace bowler Venkatesh Prasad bowled arguably the spell of his life to restrict Pak to just 180 runs. Prasad picked 5 wickets in this match.
Both battles won
On 8 June 2019 India defeated Pakistan on the cricket field. In Kargil, Indian Army beat back the Pakistani forces. It was on 26 July that India officially announced the end of the war and the recapture of its territories back from Pakistan.