On March 9, 1996, Pakistan's Aamer Sohail cut Venkatesh Prasad for four, then pointed his bat at the boundary as if to say 'I'll do it again'. Next ball Prasad bowled him, then animatedly waved him off the field. The send-off became the defining image of the India-Pakistan 1996 World Cup quarter-final, won by India by 39 runs.
Wasim Akram had pulled out of the Pakistan team with a side injury — controversially, since some Pakistani fans believed he had ducked the match. Aamer Sohail captained in his place. India had won the toss and batted; Sidhu's 93 underpinned a strong total.
Pakistan's chase had begun in style — 84 runs from the first 10 overs of Manoj Prabhakar and Javagal Srinath. Saeed Anwar fell for 48. Sohail was on 55 off 46 when he took on Prasad in the 15th over.
India batted first and made 287 for 8 with Navjot Singh Sidhu top-scoring 93 off 115 and Ajay Jadeja smashing 45 off 25 at the death (including 22 off the final over from Waqar Younis). Pakistan, chasing 288 in a high-stakes knockout, raced to 84 in the first 10 overs through Saeed Anwar (48) and Aamer Sohail. Anwar fell. Sohail then took on the medium-pacer Venkatesh Prasad. He danced down and cut him over cover for four, then turned to Prasad, pointed his bat at the region he had hit and gestured in his face. Prasad ran in next ball — fuller, straighter, with extra zip. Sohail shaped to repeat the cut; the off stump went cartwheeling. Prasad's reaction — a raised finger, an animated wave at Sohail to leave the field, a roar — sent the Bangalore crowd into delirium. Pakistan collapsed from 113 for 2 to 248 all out (Prasad 3/45, Kumble 3/48). India won by 39 runs.
Sohail cuts Prasad over cover for four
Sohail turns and points his bat at the boundary, gestures at Prasad
Next ball: fuller, straighter; Sohail's off stump cartwheels
Prasad waves Sohail off the field with both arms
Pakistan collapse from 113/2 to 248 a.o.
India win by 39 runs and reach the semi-finals
March 9, 1996 — afternoon
India 287/8 in 50 overs (Sidhu 93).
Pakistan chase: 84/0 in 10
Anwar 48, Sohail 55.
15th over
Sohail cuts Prasad for four; gestures; bowled next ball.
Pakistan all out 248
India win by 39 runs.
“He shouldn't have done what he did. I just bowled the next ball — that was the answer.”
“I let my emotions take over. It was a foolish thing to do. I learned a hard lesson.”
Prasad became a national hero overnight; Sohail was vilified in Pakistan for triggering the moment that turned the match. The two never played a Test against each other again. Aamer Sohail later admitted the gesture was 'foolish' and that 'I let my emotions take over'.
Cricket's most photographed mid-pitch confrontation of the 1990s. The Sohail-Prasad moment is replayed every time India play Pakistan and is the defining incident in Prasad's career.
England v West Indies
1933-07-22
Six months after Bodyline, Learie Constantine and Manny Martindale opened up with sustained leg-theory bouncers at Douglas Jardine in the Old Trafford Test. Jardine, captaining England, stood up and made 127 — his only Test century — proving, at considerable physical cost, that he could face the tactic he had unleashed on Australia.
England vs West Indies
1954-04-01
Fred Trueman's 1953-54 tour of the West Indies under Len Hutton was a personal disaster. The 22-year-old Yorkshire fast bowler clashed with hosts, opponents, umpires and even his own captain. At the end of the tour MCC withheld his Good Conduct Bonus — a public censure that probably cost him his place on the next two overseas tours and which Trueman resented for the rest of his life.
Australia
1912-03-21
Six of Australia's most senior cricketers — Warwick Armstrong, Victor Trumper, Clem Hill, Tibby Cotter, Vernon Ransford and Hanson Carter — refused to tour England for the 1912 Triangular Tournament after the Board of Control insisted on appointing its own manager rather than the players' choice, Frank Laver.