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On This Day: January 31, 1999 - The epic India vs Pakistan Test match at Chennai ended

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Saj

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31 January 1999.

Pakistan defeated India by 12 runs in one of the all time great Test matches.

A match that ended with the sporting Chennai crowd giving the Pakistani players a standing ovation.
 

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Watched that on TV. Great win for Pak.

India was cruising until Tendu got out after scoring 100. IIRC, India needed some 50 odd runs with 5 wickets remaining and the tail choked massively. Saqlain destroyed the tail.
I could not believe why Srinath and the Tail did not swing wildly when they were so close to the taget. They tried to play defense and Saqi was too good for them.
 
This is what the fans are missing out on. Pak and India should come to an agreement where we have a 5 match test series every other year. Leave the politics to one side and get it on bacause in the end its all about cricket and giving the fans what they want
 
This test match will always be remembered for Sachin's masterclass.
 
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One of the rare occasions when the Indian crowd appreciated the cricket played by Pak.
 
An amazing match. No idea how Afridi did not win the man of the match but a great effort by both sets of players.
 
Watched all 3 tests and had to pay through my nose to get tickets for one of the matches.Worth it though.Totally worth it.
 
If Australia and England continents apart can have a full series every 2 years then why cant Pak and India?

Surely everyone would make more money with regular Pak-India series.

Indians always say its Pakistanis who are difficult to deal with but when you have a country willing to make peace and play cricket together and you reject that how can you say that?

Cricket is not a political tool, its a sport and sport is only there to unite. Not be used a tool to deprive someone else of cricket.

I find it disgusting how a country can stoop so low, complete lack of moral fiber.
 
Crowd made it for me. Great sporting gesture.
 
On this Pakistan beat India in famous Chennai Test

On January 31, 1999, Pakistan beat India in famous Chennai Test.

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Saqlain Mushtaq kisses the ground as Pakistan beat India in Chennai, India v Pakistan, 1st Test, Chennai, 4th day, January 31, 1999​

Who remember watching this historic match at the stadium or on tv?
 
Re: On this day....the Epic Test match at Chennai ended

Was at the ground all 5 days. Man... What an experience. One of the few times when sport was transcendental. Still can't believe Indian tail couldn't finish the match though. Especially remember Akram's interaction with the crowd in the gallery.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2
 
Indiafan said:
Err, no. that you had to bring this dig up shows more about yourself and your complete lack of understanding of cricket and test matches to me, IMO

A 137 in a 4th innings with almost a broken back would deserve praise from even his worst detractors

That his team couldn't even score 17 runs to win is the tragedy of ages
Click to expand...

Stop taking it personally. He is not actually bhagwan unless you believe in the existence of Santa Claus as well.

Anyway, it was our first test win against India since historic 1987 Bangalore Test win which got us our first test series win on Indian soil.
 
Brilliant test match which saw sachin and Saqlain shine and show what top cricketers they were.
 
On this day....the Epic Test match at Chennai ended

Saqlain- legend
 
I remember it just like yesterday, Came back from school around 2 pm to only know that there was a power cut, ran to a real estate shop which had T.V and watched it till the match finished.

Those were the days :(
 
I was at Chennai on this day, on a business trip. But I could not find the time to go watch the match live, even though I had the tickets. Could not even watch it on TV - so near, yet so far.
 
It was the Chennai crowd that made the Test into a great one. Fantastic support.
 
That was a good cricket match. Still remember saqi 's bowling
 
One of the best test ever. It was an awesome day when got the last wicket. After sachin fell i knew we have a chance now and we took it.
 
Chennai is a very friendly city, i visited chennai and state of Tamil Nadu few times, people appreciate achievements. Don't want to bring politics but cricket is the only thing that keeps it from being part of India.
 
such a sad day, came soo closeee, india should've won wasn't for SRT's impatience........
 
was a great match always knew we were Tendulkar's wicket away.. Great all-round performance from all the great players. It was a great series. So many legends.
 
menace2society said:
If Australia and England continents apart can have a full series every 2 years then why cant Pak and India?

Surely everyone would make more money with regular Pak-India series.

Indians always say its Pakistanis who are difficult to deal with but when you have a country willing to make peace and play cricket together and you reject that how can you say that?

Cricket is not a political tool, its a sport and sport is only there to unite. Not be used a tool to deprive someone else of cricket.

I find it disgusting how a country can stoop so low, complete lack of moral fiber.
Click to expand...
Is loss of life more than the sports ?
Werent the terrorists who attacked the Srilankan team bus actually wanted No cricket in Pakistan ?

Wat will the indian govt say to all those families that lost their dear ones in terror attacks ...
There r genuine reasons why india is taking such stand .... Had the perpetraitors of mumbai attack been brought to book then India will come with open arms buddy ...
Let ur govt try this n then see :13:
 
I was 9 years old when that match happened, I watched every single day of the match, one of the best I ever saw, especially the ending... match was slipping away after tendulkars brilliant knock and saqlain mushtaq dismissed him to turn the match around
 
Great match , Tendulkar played valiant knock but it was Pakistan's day to shine.
 
Was there at the stadium for one of the days. Was a kid then.

Don't remember which day and definitely remember nothing about what happened in the match apart from vague memories of Ijaz Ahmed batting. Went along with dad, mom, grand father, grand mother and my brothers like a picnic taking lemon rice, tomato rice, etc. in parcels to eat during the lunch lmao... Think it was my first experience at the stadium.
 
The one and only day I shed a tear after a cricket match, Moin Khan's bumped catch of Ganguly during the Indian chase just added to the misery.... Cant blame SRT for this one, he was limping towards the end with his back injury, rest of the clowns on his team gave him no support........
 
the team that deserved to win won the match. Despite the fact that sachin was given not out plumb lbw and still pakistan won that match speaks the extent to which odds were against pakistan

Pakistan beat india in india in front of indian crowds in presence of indian commentators in a swashbuckling fashion.
 
Epic innings by sachin. Heart breaking his team lost. Great test match. But there are better.
 
Saqlain was amazing. He deserved to be the man of the match. I was listening to Saqlain a few days back on a TV channel when he was discussing the Chennai Test and I was amazed to see how thoughtful cricketer Saqlain really was. He narrated how he would analyze the opposing batsman and how he and Akram would plan to get the batsman out.
 
silent ischemia said:
Saqlain was amazing. He deserved to be the man of the match. I was listening to Saqlain a few days back on a TV channel when he was discussing the Chennai Test and I was amazed to see how thoughtful cricketer Saqlain really was. He narrated how he would analyze the opposing batsman and how he and Akram would plan to get the batsman out.
Click to expand...

Saqlain was amazing in the Chennai test, probably the greatest display of spin bowling I have ever seen. Boy did he put on a clinic that day........
 
Would have gone down as one of GOAT test innings had they won..
 
That Pakistani bowling line up is extinct and nowadays Pakistan are fighting hard to win against Kiwis, before Kiwis were treated like Zimabbwe against that bowling line up. How times changed, all this hype about Amir and him being compared to Wasim, what a joke
 
I remember being gutted after the 1st innings. Didn't think the pitch had that many demons and we'd put up a total below par.

I criticise Afridi a lot but that 141 in the 2nd innings was his finest knock in international cricket. Those runs proved to be vital.

India faltered in the run chase but Tendulkar and Mongia looked like they were taking the game away from us. Still can't believe Mongia's wicket, that let us right back in.
 
Man I wanna see an Ind vs Pak Test like this. All of you oldies are sooo lucky to see the great Pakistan teams. Meanwhile, #YoungstaBeauties like me, Square Drive, aloo paratha, aliasad1998, QalandarFan, etc. are stuck with Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, IK Jr., and over-the-hill Misbah. :((
 
Wasn't old enough to know much about cricket then but sounds like it was a pretty good match.

:sa
 
Chennai 1999 – Sachin's gem and an incredible experience

Posting one of my old Article about this game.

Sachin Tendulkar is arguably one of the greatest cricketer of all time. This is the account of the first time I ever saw Sachin bat live as I remember it.

This was in 1999 when Pakistan and India met in bilateral series after a hiatus of 12 years. There was a lot of hype around the series and the first test was held in my hometown, Chennai. As a young cricket fan I had two wishes, one to watch my idol Sachin Tendulkar score a hundred live and the other to watch team India win a test match.

The Chennai test was an incredible one, completely worth of all the hype surrounding its start. Pakistan team was filled with great bowlers and incredible batting line up and India prior to this series were unbeatable at home. The battle of Sachin with Waqar, Wasim and Saqlain was much talked about prior to the series. The game began and both teams were neck and neck after the first innings. India gained a slender lead of 16 after the first innings and Saqlain Mushtaq enhanced his reputation of being the best young spinner in the world at that time with a 5 wicket haul.

Pakistan began their second innings on a positive note and in spite of losing wickets at regular intervals, it seemed like they would set India a huge total to chase. Afridi was great with a brilliant hundred and with useful contributions from Ijaz and Inzamam, Pakistan was well on course for a huge total. At 275/4, already leading by 259 India’s chances seemed glum when Venkatesh Prasad probably bowled one of the best spells of his career. He took 6/33 as Pakistan collapsed to 286 as their last 6 wickets fell for just 11 runs. India began their second inning needing 271 to win with more than 2 days to go.

Indian second innings did not get to an ideal start as Waqar dismissed both the Indian openers with just 6 runs on the board as Sachin Tendulkar joined Rahul Dravid in the middle. Both these players took India to safety without further loss and it was all set for a brilliant 4th day at the MA Chidambaram stadium. This was when I got a chance to go to the stadium. I had watched the first 3 days on television and my uncle who could not go to the ground on the 4th day, offered me the ticket and along with my cousins I headed to the ground with lots of expectations.

We reached the ground early and watched the players practice. This was my first visit to any international match and it was really exciting to see the players warm up ahead of a great game of cricket. The crowd cheered as Sachin and Dravid walked out to bat, to continue India’s chase. Wasim Akram’s peach on the fourth morning went through the wall’s defenses as India was in early trouble at 50/3. Azhar and Ganguly got out cheaply to leave India tottering at 82/5 when Nayan Mongia walked out to join Sachin Tendulkar.

Both these players saw India through to lunch and in a sedate partnership took India to tea with 5 wickets still in hand. The match was in balance and we in the crowd knew that a wicket at that point will mean that India had no chance. After tea though the mood changed, Sachin and Mongia had decided to attack and the runs flowed quickly and India were racing towards the target. It was exhilarating to watch the proceedings as the bowling attack of Pakistan was brilliant and the world’s best player was involved in a fierce battle to win the game for his country. It was a privilege to watch Sachin counter Saqlain on a wicket which was turning square. He was battling back spasm too in the middle of all this which made this innings even greater. Sachin reached one of his best hundreds and I was in the stands applauding. This was one of the best moments for me as a cricket fan.

India was 218/5 with just 53 to get and we could see Pakistan losing hope. They had taken the new ball to no avail as Mongia and Sachin were scoring runs at a fair clip. This is when Mongia decided to display one of the biggest brain freezes of his career. Trying to loft Wasim over the top, got himself caught at mid-off leaving a struggling Sachin to take India to victory along with the tail. Sachin got out to Saqlain trying to finish the game with only 13 needed and the Indian tail collapsed in a hurry as India fell short of the Pakistan total. It was a heartbreaking loss and a very hard one to take as an Indian fan. It was so near yet so far for the Indian team.

When the game was over unlike all the other grounds in India, in spite of an Indian loss the crowd stuck around. Then one of the most brilliant thing happened when even now when I think back makes me proud of being an Indian. The Chennai crowd rose in appreciation of the Pakistan team as the victorious neighbours took a victory lap in India. Who would have thought that it was even possible? It was a brilliant moment as the fans clapped till the end and it was a victory for the game. Chennai is considered as one of the most knowledgeable crowds in India and I saw it with my own eyes for the first time. Even though there was a disappointment of an Indian loss that evening, I was proud as a cricket fan. Cricket is a sport and it’s beyond borders and the crowd that day proved the same. I got one of my wish granted that day but had to wait for another 3 years to watch India win a test match but that memory will forever be etched in my mind.
 
Awesome match. Those were the days when Ind-Pak matches had serious heat unlike today. I was in school that time and still remember the tension everywhere when Sachin and Mongia was batting. Roads were empty, huge crowd in front of shops playing the game in black and white tele. No internet to know the scores, no live streaming or cricket forums to stay up todate.

There is a documentary available for this game in youtube. During lunch, Sachin was just sitting outside the dressing room alone without even removing his helmet...no food nothing. Such was the pressure and expectation on him. I would love to see a modern batsman (Kohli or anyone) play in such pressure cooker.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnThisDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnThisDay</a> 1999. A brilliant innings of 141 from Shahid Afridi against India in Chennai took Pakistan to a 2nd innings total of 286 and towards a memorable victory by 12 runs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fw2tnEVbtT">pic.twitter.com/Fw2tnEVbtT</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1222803051955793921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
pacesensation said:
the team that deserved to win won the match. Despite the fact that sachin was given not out plumb lbw and still pakistan won that match speaks the extent to which odds were against pakistan

Pakistan beat india in india in front of indian crowds in presence of indian commentators in a swashbuckling fashion.
Click to expand...

it was a deserved win for pakistan who were the better team.
 
If we had lost that day there was a fair chance this game would have gone under fixing scanner. How we managed to be 286 all out from 275/4.
 
Some mentally tough cricketers back then.

Most of today's Pakistani players would have crumbled under that pressure.
 
With 16 runs to win 4 wickets in hand, Tendulkar at the crease it was India's match to lose. But his back pain got worse and worse and he wanted to finish off quickly. Went after Saqlain after 3 or 4s he got out to him. Others simply crumbled under pressure.
 
Chennai has been worst place as an Indian fan for India vs Pak, 2012, 1997 Anwar and 1999 :(
 
JaDed said:
Chennai has been worst place as an Indian fan for India vs Pak, 2012, 1997 Anwar and 1999 :(
Click to expand...

I think Kolkata is even worse. That famous asian test championship match in 1999 and lost 5 ODI's to Pakistan there.
 
Former left-arm pacer Wasim Akram, who was the captain of Pakistan during their historic tour of India in 1999, recalled the pulsating Chennai Test match, revealing how he and Saqlain Mushtaq decided to take a risk against an in-form Sachin Tendulkar which luckily paid off.

Tendulkar’s 136 remains one of his finest knocks, but a heart-breaking one as well since he couldn’t take India over the line. Battling back spasm, Tendulkar, with India 17 away from victory, top edged a heave off the bowling of Saqlain and was out caught by Akram himself. 11 years after that epic Test at the Chepauk stadium, the former Pakistan captain weighed in on the match, offering his insights.

“I remember that Test match like it was yesterday. India and Pakistan were known to play close matches. I remember a Test match in 1987 in Bangalore when Sunil Gavaskar scored some 90-odd and then this Chennai Test. It was such a close Test match, into its last day. I think India needed some 20-odd runs, and the partnership between Mongia and Sachin was flourishing. Sachin was reading Saqlain bloody well, and was aware when he bowled the doosra,” Akram told Aakash Chopra in a video chat.

Needing 271 to win, India were reduced to 82/5 when Tendulkar and Nayan Mongia came together to add a 136-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Akram, who broke the stand by foxing Mongia to play a rash shot, believes that was the moment when he believed Pakistan had a chance to wrap things up and indicated the message to his players.

“Had Mongia played along, the result would have been different. But when he skied one and got out, I told the players this is the time. Sachin was battling back spasms so the opportunity was right there,” the former fast bowler added.

With Tendulkar still holding fort, Saqlain went to his captain for advice, and that is when Akram asked Saqlain to bowl a risk delivery.

“When Sachin got out, all fielders were on the boundary. Only I was at extra-cover. I told Saqlain to bowl a flighted doosra, knowing the risk that it may even go for a six. Knowing that Sachin would hit over mid-wicket, Saqlain bowled it full on middle and leg. He went after it and top-edged the ball to me,” Akram said.

As it turned out Pakistan won the Test match by 12 runs as India’s tail failed to gather the remaining runs.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...kistan-test/story-Q7SSvO5EDW119K23YAEuaI.html
 
Heart breaking to see Sachin not come up the winner in this and still such a stab in the spine how Moin Khan got away with the greatest bumped catch of all time..
 
It was a really good game. Both sides did well but better team won in the end.

Pakistan were much better than India during those days.
 
There have been many closely fought contests between India and Pakistan in the past. The arch-rivals met each other in several matches. One of the most watched rivalries in sports, India vs Pakistan throws up a controversial moment every now and then. Recently, Inzamam-ul-Haq remembered a moment from 1999 when Sourav Ganguly was controversially dismissed in the Chennai Test.

Ganguly hit a cover drive and the ball struck Azhar Mahmood, who fielding at short cover. Moin Khan subsequently caught the ball after it hit Mahmood and went up in appeal. The on-field umpires were in a little doubt and got together to make a decision. After some deliberation, they declared Ganguly out.

But the replays showed that the ball had struck Mahmood, and then bounced off the ground before Moin Khan caught it. It is regarded as one of the worst umpiring decisions.

While talking to Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube show DRS With Ash, Inzamam admitted that he also regarded Ganguly’s dismissal as a doubtful one.

“There were two people involved in the affair. One Azhar Mahmood and the other Moin Khan. When Sourav played the shot, it hit Azhar Mahmood first on his body and then Moin Khan caught it,” said Inzamam.

“I cannot clearly tell you about it because Azhar was not playing that Test match. I was unwell in the second innings so in my place Azhar was the substitute. I was not on the ground at that time but I can say that the catch was a doubtful one.”

It was a significant development in the Test match as Ganguly’s dismissal reduced India to 82 for 5. India were chasing a target of 271 runs in the fourth innings but were bowled out for 258 despite Sachin Tendulkar hitting a ton.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...oubtful-one/story-eQLDctYmouDl5zGUmWEeRO.html
 
Shahid Afridi's 141 run destruction of Indian bowling (30th Jan, 1999) - will always remain another highlight of this game.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnThisDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnThisDay</a> in 1999. The first Test between Pakistan and India for nine years ended in Chennai. Shahid Afridi smashed 141, Sachin Tendulkar scored 136 and Saqlain Mushtaq finished with ten wickets as Pakistan won one of the greatest Test matches of all time by 12 runs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/NYVzXtVZyw">pic.twitter.com/NYVzXtVZyw</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1620339418757480451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Probably the first test match I watched. Vaguely remember seeing a bit of SA tour of England, OZ tour of Pakistan, 98-99 Ashes but didn't watch any of them for a significant amount of time .
 
Unforgettable day and match. I was a big Pakistan cricket supporter back then and was cheering for them from the stands ( silently ) of MAC
 
Incredible match.

Pakistan were gone, but boy did those players have heart and a never say die attitude.
 
Still can't believe we messed it up lol. The team in those days was sachin and 10 jokers.
Saqlain mushtaq was incredible, he actually performed in India unlike warne and murali.
Afridi played his greatest knock
 
I was at the stadium. A few memories from that day..
- Afridi set up an interesting final day.
- Wasim Akram dismissed Rahul Dravid with a very good ball.
- Sourav Ganguly was given out wrongly. When he was leaving the field he kept on looking back as if someone was going to call him back. :)
- Sachin was batting very well and Pakistani fielders had given up. Then that happened! - Sachin who was battling a back injury went for a six against Saqlain and got caught at long off/on (by Wasim I believe). :cry:
- Once Sachin was out, we could see a different Pakistani team and they closed out the match superbly. 👏
- The crowd appreciated the Pakistan team's efforts throughout the match including on the final day. The Pakistani cricketers showed respect for the crowd by walking around the ground. We gave them the standing ovation as they deserved it.
- When we were walking out of the stadium, I noticed the silence as if we lost someone.

It was the only match India lost when I watched live in a stadium. All other matches were won by India. But, I still consider it a fantastic match.
 
What an epic test match it was. One of the most memorable wins against India in India where the home crowd clapped in praise and gave a standing ovation to the visiting team Pakistan.
 
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