OTD | Pakistan clinched a 3-2 victory over India with a 52-run win in the Sahara Friendship Cup 1996

India vs Pakistan games have always been a huge deal for fans across nations due to the political turmoil between both nations. The high-intensity cricket matches are fun to watch as the players keep entertained. In 1996, the Sahara Friendship Cup happened between Pakistan and India, where the Men in Green went on to beat India 3-2. 

It was disappointing for the Indians as they lost the decider game by 52 runs. In the 5th ODI, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first. However, their decision seemed to backfire as they could only score 213 runs, where Aamer Sohail hit 44 runs off 96 balls and Saleem Malik scored 43 runs off 47 balls. None of the players went past the 50-run mark, which was embarrassing. 

Anil Kumble was the star bowler for India as he claimed three wickets and Aashish Kapoor took two wickets. However, little did the Men in Green know that those 213 runs would be enough for them to win the game. When India came into bat, the openers seemed pretty set at the start. However, one by one, the wickets started falling at regular intervals. 

The batters gave up pretty easily, which led to an embarrassing defeat against Pakistan. India’s highest score was 23 runs made by Sachin Tendulkar, the skipper then. None of the batters touched the 30-run mark. 

The poor batting performances by the batters after winning two games weren’t expected at all. For Pakistan, Mushtaq Ahmed was the man who claimed a fifer and snatched the game away from India. He was given the Player of the Match award for his solid performance. 

Disclaimer: This exclusive news is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and intuition. While reviewing this information, consider the points discussed and form your own conclusions.

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