#SKFlashback: When Pakistan beat India in a World Cup Warm-up game

In the overall scheme of 50-overs cricket, the Pakistan cricket team leads the Indian cricket team by 72-51 in the head-to-head with four matches producing no result. It isn’t a stat that gives an impressive reading for an Indian supporter and most of the defeats came during the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s as well when a large chunk of matches took place in Sharjah.

But, if there is one record that every Indian fan never forgets to taunt the supporters from across the border, it is the one in World Cup cricket, both the 50-over and the T20 version.

There is a good reason to feel proud as well, for in 10 matches in both formats of the competition, starting from 1992, the Men in Blue have got the better of the Men in Green in each of the encounters.

But, not many remember that Pakistan have actually got the better of India in a World Cup game, albeit a WARM-UP match.

Yes, this occurrence happened during the World T20 of 2012, played in Sri Lanka, when prior to the start of the main event, the two teams squared off in a World T20 practice match at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, India posted a more than competitive 185 for 3, on the back of an unbeaten 75 from Virat Kohli and 56 from Rohit Sharma.

In response to that, Pakistan found themselves at 91 for 5 in the 12^th over, but Kamran Akmal, along with Shoaib Malik, then put on a stand of 95 runs to take full control of proceedings and seal the game for their side.

Akmal remained unbeaten on 92 while malik was not out on 37. Birthday boy Ravichandran Ashwin was India’s pick of the bowlers, taking 4 for 23 in 4 overs, but it proved to be futile in the end.

In the actual tournament,however, India got the better of Pakistan as Kohli once again starred in a chase of 129. The Men in Blue failed to make it through to the semifinals of the competition while Pakistan did so, losing to Sri Lanka at that stage of the competition.