K. ARUMUGAM

If you closely look at it India-Pakistan ties at Dhaka, where both will meet tormorrOw in the Hero Champions Trophy – what one comes across is the intensity of these contests.

Dhaka has presented a cauldron for these two hockey power houses, though the equation is on the edge nowadays due to contemporary India’s dramatic rise.

Whatever the reasons, most of their contests turned out to be hot at the Dhaka venue. Uncontrolled Crowd, ‘controversial’ umpiring, huge proportions of prestige and passion, contributed to such bot boilers.

Actually, India and Pak did not play many matches there, but whenever did, they were noticeable for the huge impact they made on the discourse of hockey between the two neighbours.

The first contest between the two was 1985 Asia Cup final. The contest meandered into a scuffle when the Indian players objected to a Japanese Umpire awarding a goal. In the end, the umpire was to be taken out on a stretcher! Later six Indian players were suspended by the FIH for the indiscipline which has largely affected Indian hockey prospects in the next year. That India finished last at the next year’s World Cup has been a standing sorepoint for India.

India winning the Prime Minister Gold Cup in Dhaka in 2001, beating Pak in tie-breaker

Then came the Prime Minister Cup. India won the Cup thanks to a brace from Indian Bank’s Radhakrishan which helped the score end 3-3. India emerged the victors on tie-breaker. Cedric D’Souza was the coach then.

However, things went bad to worse when India B team took part in the South Asian Federation Games in 2010. India was preparing for the home World Cup and sent its second team, led by Ajitesh Roy.
India though beat their arch rivals 5-1 in the league match, thanks to a hattrick from up and coming penalty corner expert VR Raghunath. However, the things did not go well in the final.

Police had to be called in when the teams started a scuffle midway through first half. Both captains had to be sent off for not controlling their teams. India then on could not dominate the proceedings as they did in the league match (5-1) but had to go for tie-breaking shoot out where India’s Mrinal Chaubey could not live upto the expectation. The title was won by Pakistan.

A noteworthy thing for India is also its Jr Indian boys winning the Jr Asia Cup in 2016 after beating Pakistan in the semifinal, where Dilpreet Singh was declared Best Player of the Tournament.

Nowadays, the umpiring system and spectator control have seen many changes, thanks to the FIH’s strict regulations. Therefore we can expect no fireworks from spectators or erring players when the two nations engage for the prestige battle tomorrow.

India – Pakistan at Dhaka

1. 1985 Asia Cup: Pakistan 3 India 2 Final
2. 2001 Prime Minister Cup: India 3 (6) Pak 3 (5) Final
3. 2010 South Asian Federation Games: India 5 Pak 1 (league)
4. 2010 South Asian Federation Games India 1 (3) Pak 1 (4) Final
5. 2017 Asia Cup India 3 Pak 1 League
6. 2017 Asia Cup India 4 Pak 0 Semifinal

SUM UP

Played in Dhaka: 6

India won: 3

Pakistan won 1

Drawn 2 ( both won a tie-break contest each, both were finals)