Pakistan versus India: The not so Kool-kata crowd

It has never happened and it will probably never ever happen again that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would be forced to change the venue of any match after finalising the schedule of their world events.

Pakistan and India are set to take each other on at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 19 after security fears forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to share its concerns with the world body, which moved the match from its prior location -- Dharamsala.



Reportedly, the PCB wrote a letter to the BCCI to choose between Kolkata and Mohali as the alternate venues and the former ground was finalised.

A quick look at the statistics unveils that Pakistan have a four-out-of-four victory record against India in ODIs at the Eden Gardens — the second biggest cricket ground in the world after the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia.

In Tests at the Eden Gardens, Pakistan have bagged victory and faced defeat only once against India at the 66,000 capacity ground. The other five Tests ended without a result.



Both teams have not faced each other in a T20 at the Eden Gardens thus far but come March 19 that would change. Which team will get off the mark first in Kolkata in the shortest format will be decided on March 19 but one thing is for sure, the crowd will not like it if it is Pakistan.

The Eden of Kolkata has been burned by its visitors. It has also served as the base from where a missile such as bottles, fruits and what not has been thrown on towards the players and in the ground when the ire of the spectators reached its peak.

First brush with controversy

The first incident dates back to West Indies’ tour to India in 1967. After the first Test was drawn, West Indies under Sir Gary Sobers went on to gain a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against Nawab of Pataudi Junior-led Indian side.



The third match saw the spectators expecting an Indian victory but an 80,000 crowd in the then 60,000 capacity ground could not hold on to their excitement, or to be elaborate their desperation, and came spilling onto the ground. Police resorted to lathi-charge and the end result was a protest by the awry crowd.

PHOTO COURTESY: ESPNCRICINFO

The Police, after a while outnumbered by the protestors, saw the canvas roof of the stands burned down and the Eden was then subjected to a violent riot.

A sobbing Kambli in Eden

The event will always be remembered as the day when Vinod Kambli went off the field with tears rolling down his face after a batting failure brought India down from 98-2 to 120-8 chasing 252 against Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup semi-final.

Sachin Tendulkar was once again playing God for the Indians as he single-handedly scored 65 off 88 balls before Sanath Jayasuriya bowled one down the leg side and Romesh Kaluwitharana was quick to remove the bails. As the red signal flashed on the screen, the Indian crowd was shattered by the sight of the stumping. They had hope that the middle order would be able carry the good start forward, however, they lost six quick wickets.



The rest is stated history as missiles came showering onto the ground, the Indian batting line-up kept missing its steps. The match-referee Clive Lloyd then walked into the ground and had no other option but to award the game to Sri Lanka. The Islander went to win the World Cup that year against Australia with unbeaten knocks from Aravinda de Silva (107) and captain Arjuna Ranatunga (47).


Rawalpindi Express blocks Sachin

Shoaib Akhtar, known famously as Rawalpindi Express for his pace, was one part of the event which sent the Kolkata crowd into frenzy in 1999 during the first match of the Asian Test championship between arch-rivals Pakistan and India.

Shoaib was not responsible for the dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar with the ball, instead he was collecting the ball at the non-striker’s end when the Indian batsman, in an attempt to complete the third run, crashed into the speedster and was adjudged run-out off a Nadeem Khan direct hit from midwicket.



Shoaib then returned to his fielding position but he was welcomed by the crowd with bottles and many other objects.

PHOTO COURTESY: ESPNCRICINFO

Wisden Cricketers' Almanack had then reported: "Spectators started burning newspapers in the stands and hurled stones, fruit and plastic bottles on to the field. The match was held up for over three hours as about 65,000 people were removed by police and security men.”


The clash of the Asian titans is now set to take place at the picturesque Eden Gardens on March 19. After threats to dig up the pitch by Anti-Terrorist Front of India and a protest by ex-servicemen, there is a chance that the match will offer some interesting spectacles in the stands apart from great bowling, batting and fielding sights on the field.

Will the Eden Gardens crowd offer a pleasant welcome to Pakistan team? https://t.co/SmA35arnyy #WT20 #PAK #IND

— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) March 12, 2016