On a late winter day, the Indian males’s hockey crew arrived in Rawalpindi to face Pakistan.

A hat-trick of wins for the Green Shirts—two in Chandigarh and one in Jalandhar—meant the destiny of the six-match Test sequence was almost sealed by the point the caravan had crossed the border.

A 1-1 attract Lahore turned Pakistan’s lead unassailable earlier than India bought its first win in Faisalabad.

The Rawalpindi recreation was a useless rubber. But an India-Pakistan recreation is seldom confined to simply that. The archrivals, by some means, at all times name for an added pinch of spice. Just sufficient to cook dinner up a thriller.

That is what occurred on the Army Hockey Stadium on February 26, 2006. Pakistan went 3-0 forward, courtesy of targets from Tariq Aziz, Muhammad Saqlain, and Shabbir Khan.

The house crew’s comfy cushion bought punctured within the 54th minute, with Sandeep Singh changing a brief nook. Tejbir Singh chipped one into the online, six minutes later. Three minutes from the ultimate hooter, Vishnu Pillay earned a draw for India.

What made this six-goal extravaganza particular was that it was the final of its form. For the delicacy that the India-Pakistan contests are, it went chilly after that Test sequence.

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From 1978 to 2006, India and Pakistan performed eight Test sequence earlier than diplomatic ruckus spilled over to see the development come to an abrupt halt. Talks to reinstate Tests surfaced in 2013 earlier than being drowned out by political resistance.

The deal with is now restricted to worldwide and continental competitions, such because the Asian Champions Trophy match on Wednesday. The video games, nonetheless feisty, provide edge-of-the-seat thrills at occasions, however they’re few and much between. The indisputable fact that Pakistan is in the midst of a transition doesn’t assist both.

Ask any former worldwide, they usually’d give their vote for a Test sequence between India and Pakistan. 

“It is necessary that we play (Tests). India and Pakistan have not been able to get rid of each other for the last 70 years.  Sau saal baad bhi ikkathe hee rahenge (A hundred years from now we’ll still be together). 

“Make every possible effort to improve our relations.  Aur sport se toh kabhi relation bigadta hee nahi hai (Sport can never deteriorate diplomatic relations),” mentioned former India captain Rajpal Singh.

Rajpal featured within the 2006 Test sequence and scored in India’s solely win. The encounter he savours essentially the most, although, is the penalty shootout win within the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy remaining. 

“2011 was the first edition of the Asian Champions Trophy in China. India and Pakistan played in the final. At that time, a lot of young players were in the side and I was the captain,” recalled Rajpal.

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Pakistan holds the bragging rights in head-to-head data. In the 172 video games between the 2, throughout competitions, Pakistan outdoes India 82-64. It has extra wins within the Olympics, Asian Games, and Asia Cup. India leads 3-2 within the World Cups however Pakistan makes up with its 5 titles to India’s one. 

In the Asian Champions Trophy, nonetheless, India leads 6-2. This clear edge, Rajpal feels, stems from the inaugural gold below his cost.

Rajpal’s advocacy to renew Tests is echoed by one in every of his counterparts too. 

Imran Butt, a former goalkeeper and captain, received silver on the Champions Trophy and Asian Games with Pakistan.

“There is a barrier set. As sportspersons, we will have to break it. Ultimately, hockey suffers due to India and Pakistan not playing. Whenever the two teams play, the game is intense and closely fought.  Cricket bhi khelein aapas mei, hockey bhi khelein (Play cricket and hockey both). If other teams can play, then why not us?” Butt advised Sportstar. 

Butt and Rajpal belong to completely different generations. The former debuted in 2012, the latter’s remaining yr on the worldwide stage. Yet the recollections of their respective journeys throughout the border replicate an unvarying heat held in place by intertwining cultures, and, after all, the love for hockey.

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“When we went to India, we got a lot of love. Obviously, on the field we were competitive, but off it, we were good friends. Our language and culture are pretty similar, so we always maintain a good friendship,” mentioned Butt.

“I went for the first time in 2006. The way they showed love and welcomed us – it was nice. Their hospitality was generous,” recounted Rajpal.

Even with the mutual respect between groups, unruly moments created chinks within the rivalry every now and then. Butt has had first-hand expertise.

In 2012, Butt, part of Mumbai Magicians within the Hockey India League, was among the many Pakistani gamers launched after a Mumbai-based celebration opposed their participation. 

Two years later, Butt was a part of a Pakistani crew that drew flak after two of its gamers – Muhammad Tousiq and Ali Amjad – have been suspended for displaying obscene gestures on the Bhubaneswar crowd after its semifinal win in opposition to India within the Champions Trophy. 

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“It should not have happened. We are somewhat ambassadors of peace. The reaction was going to come from both sides after that. The FIH president back then, Narinder Batra, had his say. Even our federation made a statement. 

“These incidents create misunderstandings. And that crowd support went against us in the final against Germany, which cost us. Had the incident not happened, I knew the crowd would have supported us,” Butt mentioned.

But when Pakistan returned to the town in 2018 for the World Cup, all was forgiven, he added. 

Despite political friction between the nations, Butt stays a staunch propagator for extra India-Pakistan video games. He hopes the sport in Chennai leads by instance in making it a actuality.

“The game in Chennai will be in a slightly different environment, but it will be a closely fought contest. The more we play, the better. Whatever misunderstandings we have between us might get resolved,” he mentioned.