Pakistan resumed their tour of India with the second Test match, in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
They won the toss and chose to bowl, but failed to make early inroads with ball. Arun Lal and Dilip Vengsarkar made fifties, but the Indian innings was mainly built around Mohammad Azharuddin's 141, made off 400 balls, and featuring 11 fours. With captain Kapil Dev adding 66 and Roger Binny an unbeaten 52, India reached 403. Wasim Akram was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 5-96.
When Pakistan replied, they initially seemed in a strong position after Rameez Raja and Rizwan-uz-Zaman both scored sixties. Then a batting collapse ensued, and the last eight wickets fell for 51 runs. Binny continued his fine match, with 6-56.
When India batted again, Arun Lal helped them declare on 181/3. Set an unlikely 356 to win, Pakistan salvaged a draw by making 179/5 in their second innings, thanks, in no small part to Javed Miandad, who was 63 not out at the end.
Two days later the sides met again, this time in the second ODI – the first in the history of Eden Gardens.
Again, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl. It that seemed an ill-judged decision as Indian opener K. Srikkanth went on to make 123 off just 103 balls, including a six and 14 fours.
Unfortunately for India, he lacked consistent support until Azharuddin joined him at the crease, going on to make 46. The final Indian total of 238/6 from their 40 overs seemed a competitive enough score.
Rameez and Younis Ahmed got the Pakistan chase off to a good start with an opening stand of 106, both of them scoring 58. As several wickets fell cheaply, India seemed to be on top, but Saleem Malik came to the crease and effectively won the match for Pakistan, slamming an unbeaten 72 off just 36 balls, including a six and 11 fours.
They reached their target with three balls to spare, winning the match by three wickets.