With one ODI and one Test match of India’s latest tour of Pakistan behind them, the two sides next met in the second Test, in Faisalabad.
It proved to be an absolute paradise for batters. Over 1,150 runs were scored in the match, for the loss of just 16 wickets. It was no surprise that it ended in a draw.
India had won the toss and batted, and opener Anshuman Gaekwad initially caught the eye, with 74. Then Sandeep Patil and Ravi Shastri added 200 for the fifth wicket. Patil was eventually out for 127, having struck 18 fours, while Shastri went on to make 139 with 16 fours and two sixes. India were all out for 500 on the third morning. Abdul Qadir and Azeem Hafeez took four wickets each, but at the cost of over a hundred runs each.
However, the pitch was still not offering anything to the bowlers, as India then found out to their cost. The Pakistan opening pair of Mohsin Khan and Mudassar Nazar put on 141. After Mohsin fell for 69, Mudassar and Qasim Umar shared a stand of 250 for the second wicket, until Nazar was out for 199. His innings featured 24 fours.
Qasim continued with Saleem Malik. He reached 210, including 27 fours, before he was finally out. Malik was unbeaten on 102 when the umpires put everybody out of their misery. Pakistan had reached 674/6 at that stage.
It was off to Sialkot for the second ODI, where Pakistan won the toss and elected to field. India batted well, making 210 for the loss of three wickets from 40 overs. Dilip Vengsarkar made an unbeaten 94 from 102 balls, while Sandeep Patil made 59.
However, as the teams returned to the pavilion for the changeover, news came through from India that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had been assassinated Not only the match, but the rest of the tour was called off as the Indian cricketers immediately flew home.