5 memorable India-Pakistan Asia Cup moments from the last 10 years

The world has started counting down the hours to the much-anticipated high octane Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan on Saturday. There will be a lot to play for and neither of the teams would like to end up on the losing side.Over the years, India and Pakistan have been involved a series of memorable encounters in the Asia Cup. All of these matches have seen great emotions and high drama. As you count down the hours to re-live the excitement once again, we take you through 5 memorable India-Pakistan Asia Cup moments from the last 10 years.

#5 The Sehwag-Raina show

Sehwag and Raina shared a partnership of 198 runs

The 5th match played between India and Pakistan at Karachi in the 2008 Asia Cup was all what an India-Pakistan tie promises to be – runs, wickets, emotions and a great run chase in the end. Batting first, Pakistan posted a mammoth 299 on the board.

Shoaib Mallik, who was opening the batting, scored 125 off 199 balls and set the stage for a cracking game. India, in reply, dominated the bowling and chased down the total in 42.1 overs.

Virender Sehwag played a brilliant knock scoring 119 off 95 balls. Sehwag's innings was littered with 12 fours and 5 sixes as he hit deliveries to all parts of the ground. He was ably assisted by Suresh Raina who scored a 69-ball 84.

Sehwag and Raina shared a partnership of 198 runs. By the time Raina fell in the 28th over, India had raced to 210 and were well on the course of victory. Fireworks from the duo had left the Pakistani cricketers stunned and India chased down the total at a canter in the end.

#4 Younis Khan\'s king-sized knock

Younis Khan scored 123 off 117 balls to puncture Indian hopes

Very rarely does a single tournament throw up the prospect of two mouth-watering India-Pakistan matches. But that is exactly what happened in the 2008 Asia Cup. After India had defeated Pakistan in the group stages of that tournament, Pakistan paid them back in kind in the super fours of the Asia Cup that year.

India had posted a huge total of 308 on the board thanks to half-centuries from Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. In reply, Younis Khan played the innings of a lifetime, guiding Pakistan to victory.

Younis Khan scored 123 off 117 balls in an innings that was decorated with 11 fours and 1 six. It was majestic yet sedate knock as he led his team to victory off just 45.3 overs in the end. It was India however that progressed to the final in the end though they were comprehensively beaten by Sri Lanka.

#3 War of words between Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar

"Few pleasantries being exchanged between Harbhajan and Shoaib Akhtar”

When India and Pakistan meet on the field, fireworks are always expected. And the audience is never left disappointed: there are fireworks from the bat and also verbal volleys that make the entertainment complete. The high-octane clash at Dambulla in the 2010 Asia Cup led to volatile situations on the field briefly.

Pakistan had posted 267 on the board which India chased down courtesy of half-centuries from Gambhir and Dhoni. But the match went right down to the wire with India winning with just one ball to spare.

With 7 runs required off 7 balls and Akhtar bowling at Harbhajan Singh, the Turbanator had a wild swish outside the off-stump and missed the ball by some distance. A visibly frustrated Akhtar had a few words to say to Bhajji who retaliated in turn with expletives.

The duo had a go at each other in Punjabi leading to a brief escalation of tension. Rameez Raja who was on air said: "Few pleasantries being exchanged between Harbhajan and Shoaib Akhtar. Teams are on fire."

Umpire Billy Doctrove intervened in the end though Akhtar kept exchanging words with Bhajji.

#2 Kohli\'s blitzkrieg

Kohli’s 183 helped India chase down a mammoth total of 329

No one will deny that Virat Kohli is a special player and he seems to enjoy scoring runs against Pakistan. In the 2012 Asia Cup match against Pakistan, the world stood still and witnessed Kohli decimate a clueless Pakistani bowling attack.

Pakistan had posted a mammoth 329 on the board courtesy centuries from the openers Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed. It was a brilliant opening stand of 224 between them and they might have thought that had batted India out of the game.

In response, Kohli answered with a career-best 183 off 148 balls. His innings comprised 22 fours and 1 six. Kohli who had come in to bat without a run on the board at the fall of Gambhir's wicket, dominated the Pakistani bowling, hitting boundaries at will all around the field.

Wahab Riaz seemed to be on the receiving end that day as Kohli belted him for 7 fours off 17 balls at one stage. A despondent Misbah-ul-Haq said, "Whatever the wicket or conditions, chasing 329 is difficult. The manner in which they batted, they outclassed us."

#1 Afridi\'s last over heroics

Afridi almost single-handedly won the match for Pakistan

Shahid Afridi has often been castigated by his critics for his irresponsible stroke-play and throwing his wicket away in vital situations. But in the 2014 Asia Cup tie against India, Afridi displayed a different part of his self as he led Pakistan to victory.

Chasing a modest total of 245 for victory, Pakistan were reduced to 203 for 6 in the 45th over. Afridi, who was at the other end, was playing a slow, matured innings. He took them to a comfortable position where Pakistan needed 11 runs off 10 balls with 4 wickets in hand.

Pakistan then panicked, losing 3 wickets off 5 balls. When Afridi came on strike in the last over, Pakistan needed 9 off 4 balls. Ashwin had bowled beautifully till then but Afridi tonked him for two massive sixes to win the game almost single-handedly.