5 epic India vs Pakistan encounters in the Asia Cup 

#2 Asia Cup 2014, Group Stage, Dhaka

This one indeed had all the ingredients to be termed an Indo-Pak classic match starting from the tense situation of the tournament till the anti-climax at the end having the viewers get goosebumps and witness a nail-biting classic. The backdrop had both teams losing to Sri Lanka and had one out of two wins. A victory was vital to seal 2nd place in the group table as both had their last group games against weaker opposition, so both sets of playing 11 were going all guns blazing from the start.

India were without their talismanic captain Dhoni who was sitting out due to injury and had Virat Kohli leading them whose subdued sojourn did not live upto his previous Asia Cup outing against the same opponents. The lineup that had a decent ODI season the previous year could garner 245/8 in their innings with half-centuries from Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja.

Saeed Ajmal (3/40 in 10 overs) was the pick of the bowlers as he took advantage of the turning track and did not leak many runs to any batsmen apart from Jadeja who was brilliant towards the on-side smashing 4 fours and 2 sixes. The overall batting had a few minor flaws but managed a competitive total despite reeling at a score just above 100 after 4 wickets at 25 overs.

The Pakistani openers gave them a steady start as Ahmed Shehzad dealt in boundaries with the lacklustre Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar and Shami. The momentous start had paced Pakistan at 93/2 at the end of 15 overs and 'Professor' Mohammad Hafeez after containing the Indian batsmen while bowling did not allow the Indian spinners return him the favour.

His free-flowing innings along with a prolific 78-run partnership with Sohaib Maqsood, who survived a stumping chance, kept Pakistan steady before him mistiming a slog-sweep to Ashwin and getting caught at deep square leg. But the best was saved for the last and 'Boom Boom' Afridi showed resistance whilst witnessing a lower order collapse at the other end.

With 10 to get from the last over, Ashwin was entrusted with the ball and he bagged Ajmal with his first delivery. Junaid Khan sneaked a single to get Afridi on strike and Lala's 2 humongous sixes on the next 2 balls stole victory from the jaws of defeat. The sight was reminiscent of the last ball six that Javed Miandad hit off Chetan Sharma in 1986 and set Pakistani fans in reverberation.

India on the other had their hearts broken this time and were made to bow out of the tournament as they finished 3rd in the group stage. Mirpur had witnessed a match talked would be described with zeal and enthusiasm across generations.

Sri Lanka would claim their 5th Asia Cup title by beating Pakistan in the final, but Pakistan claimed that they were worthy winners of this thriller that stirred out various emotions among cricket lovers across the world.

Result: Pakistan won by 1 wicket.

India 245/8 in 50 overs, Pakistan 249/9 in 49.4 overs.

Man of the Match: Mohammad Hafeez (75 runs off 117 balls; 4's- 3, 6's- 2 and 2/38 of 9 overs)