Asif Iqbal & Kapil Dev talks about it!
Fifty years ago this week, India and Pakistan met for the first time in Test cricket.
And for players and supporters alike, there is no cricketing rivalry which can match it for intensity and desire to win.
**The inaugural match in Delhi was won by India, led home by the left-arm spin of Vinoo Mankad.
But Pakistan struck back in the second match before losing the decider in their first-ever Test series. ** 
Rising Tensions
For the next seven years, the two sides played each other but with tensions rising over first Kashmir and then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, Tests were suspended for 17 years.
When cricketing ties resumed a fresh-faced all-rounder made his debut for the Indian side.
“I was barely 18 years old and don’t remember everything about the game,” admits Kapil Dev.
“I was more keen to just play than anything else, as you grow you start to learn about all the outside pressures.”
Pakistan’s Asif Iqbal was a veteran of 45 Tests by comparison and he clearly remembers the excitement it generated.
“After an absence of 17 years there was a lot of hype surrounding the match,” he recalls.
**"It was a new experience for us all accept Mushtaq Mohammed.
“We couldn’t believe the amount of public excitement; it was the biggest series of our lives.”
“Everybody wanted us to win, not just do well and even the Packer rebels like Javed Miandad and Imran Khan were recalled to the side.”**
That particular series ended in a 2-0 win for Pakistan :biggthumb: but the **return series the following year went the other way. **
Asif recalls that it was a big thrill to have the opportunity to tour India and play in such games, even if the cricketers tried to keep a better perspective than some of the fans.
“I think some people tried to portray it as some kind of Jihad (Holy war) but we never felt that way.”<—Let me guess, ISI :rotfl:
**“We wanted to win but not at any cost. Playing against India was like playing in the Ashes for the Australians and English.” **
Asif is also clear that the two teams enjoyed good relations with both each other and more importantly the opposition crowds.
**“I can never remember a single incident where the players were harassed, there was never bad feeling and we enjoyed so much goodwill especially in India.” ** <–Ask about Calcutta Test with Javed Miandad w.r.t Indian Goodwill
Kapil however, reflects that for the Indian side at least, the tension took the enjoyment out of playing in the matches.
**"It was very exciting but the fact that the relationship between the two countries was not so beautiful meant that there was always a lot of tension around.
“With that tension the performances were not as good and it was not as much fun to play.”
When we lost we were more than disappointed but what made it worse was then having to listen to the spectators and the media criticising you.
“It could go on for months and months.” **
During that spell in the 1980s, the teams met each other on no fewer than 29 occasions, however, in the last 10 years, with Kashmir the flashpoint again, only three Tests have been played.
**Currently the Indian government has suspended cricketing ties between the two sides, :mad: at least in Test series, with a resumption as far away as ever. **
Asif believes that this is a short-sighted view.
**“Cricket is a good cementing factor for easing tensions between the two countries.”
“I believe ties should be resumed not just at Test level but also in schoolboy competitions to bring people together.” **
Kapil, however, remains gloomy about the immediate outlook though.
“I feel sad when people mix sport and politics,” :mad: he says.
**“It is the way of the human race; there will always be those few people who are negative in this way.”
“I don’t see from any angle that cricketing ties will resume very soon.” **