26 June 2008, Karachi- India won by 6 wickets
Shoaib Malik scored back-to-back centuries for Pakistan against India in Asia Cups, as he hit a magnificent 125 to help Pakistan post 299 on the board in a league stage match of the Asia Cup 2008.
However, the Pakistani opener’s knock (Malik opened in this game) was overpowered by the Indian opener Virender Sehwag’s knock, as Sehwag blasted 119 off just 95 balls with 12 fours and 5 sixes to help India hunt down the 300-run target with ease, with more than 7 overs to spare.
He was also helped by Suresh Raina’s 69-ball 84, and Yuvraj Singh’s 47-ball 48.
2 July 2008, Karachi- Pakistan won by 8 wickets
If India had made a mockery of a 300-run chase in the previous game, it was Pakistan’s turn now to do the same, as a target of 309 set by the Indians, in a Super Four stage game in the same tournament, was mauled over by Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq who combined for an unbeaten 144-run partnership to take Pakistan home.
Earlier India had put up a challenging total of 308 helped by MS Dhoni’s 76 and Rohit Sharma’s 58. Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan also chipped in with cameos of 49 and 38 respectively.
Younis’ unbeaten 123 and Misbah’s 70 meant that Pakistan had absolutely no problem in chasing the total down, with more than 4 overs to spare.
19 June 2010, Dambulla- India won by 3 wickets
Opener Salman Butt’s 74, and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal’s 51 lower down the order, helped Pakistan reach 267 in their 50 overs. Praveen Kumar picked up 3 wickets for India.
In reply, Gautam Gambhir, the Indian opener neutralised Butt’s knock, with 83 runs of his own, while the Indian wicket-keeper and captain, MS Dhoni made 56 to overpower Akmal’s knock to guide India to victory with three wickets in hand.
Saeed Ajmal picked up 3 wickets for Pakistan.
18 March 2012, Dhaka- India won by 6 wickets
Centuries from both the openers, Mohammed Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed, who made 105 and 112 respectively, and Younis Khan’s half-century led Pakistan to a gigantic total of 329/6 in 50 overs.
But these efforts were belittled by Virat Kohli’s career-best 183, who along with half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma, guided India to victory with 6 wickets in hand and more than 2 overs to spare.
Bowlers from both sides withstood some hammering in the game, with Ashok Dinda picking up 2/47 for India and Umar Gul accounting for two Indian wickets while giving away 65 runs.
2 March 2014, Dhaka- Pakistan won by 1 wicket
Perhaps the most enticing and the most entertaining match of all the Asia Cup encounters between India and Pakistan came during the 2014 edition of the tournament when Shahid Afridi’s consecutive sixes in the last over of the match sealed the deal for Pakistan.
Chasing India's 245, Pakistan needed 10 runs off the last over with two wickets in hand.
On the first ball of the 50th over, Saeed Ajmal was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin to reduce Pakistan to 236/9. Thereafter, Junaid Khan, the new batsman, took a crucial single off the second ball to bring Afridi, who was batting on 22 off 16, on strike.
Afridi, known for his big hitting prowess, showed in this game that he could do it in pressure situations too, as he smoked the next two deliveries out of the park, to lead Pakistan to a memorable victory by one wicket.
Apart from these games, India and Pakistan also played in the 1997 Asia Cup in Colombo, but that match ended without a result due to rain interruption.
Yuvraj Singh has the record for most no. of sixes in his mesmerising knock of 72 (36 balls)
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