Indian cricket team in Pakistan in 2005–06

Infobox_Cricket_series_begin
series_name = Indians in Pakistan in 2005-06
team1_

team1_name = India
team2_
| team2_name = Pakistan
from_date = 7 January
to_date = 20 February 2006
team1_captain = Rahul Dravid
team2_captain = Inzamam-ul-Haq
Infobox_Cricket_series_tests
no_of_tests = 3
team1_tests_won = 0
team2_tests_won = 1
team1_tests_most_runs = Virender Sehwag
294
team2_tests_most_runs = Younis Khan
553
team1_tests_most_wickets = Zaheer Khan
10
team2_tests_most_wickets = Abdul Razzaq
9
player_of_test_series = Younis Khan
Infobox_Cricket_series_ODI
no_of_ODIs = 5
team1_ODIs_won = 4
team2_ODIs_won = 1
team1_ODIs_most_runs = Yuvraj Singh
344
team2_ODIs_most_runs = Shoaib Malik
314
team1_ODIs_most_wickets = Irfan Pathan
9
team2_ODIs_most_wickets = Mohammad Asif, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan
5
player_of_ODI_series = Yuvraj Singh
The Indian cricket team toured Pakistan for cricket matches during the 2005–06 season. Both India and Pakistan have already played Test matches during this season; India were coming off a 2–0 series win at home over Sri Lanka, while Pakistan beat England by the same margin. In One Day International cricket, India's last series, in November 2005, ended in a 2–2 draw with South Africa, while Pakistan beat England 3–2 in December 2005. The tour began on 7 January 2006 with India playing Pakistan A in a non-first class game, and is scheduled to continue until 19 February.

Pakistan's captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, said that India started as favourites in the Test series [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakvind/content/story/231323.html 'India are favourites' - Inzamam] from Cricinfo, published 1 January 2006] , while former fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has said that "it's easy to get the [Indian batsmen] out" [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakvind/content/story/231757.html Reverse swing can undo India, claims Sarfraz] from Cricinfo, published 5 January 2006] . The official ICC Test Championship had India in second place and Pakistan in fourth [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/test/archive.html ICC Test Championship Table] from the International Cricket Council, retrieved 7 January 2006] , while the ICC ODI Championship has Pakistan in the third place and India in the fifth place, at the end of 2005 [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/odi/archive.html ICC ODI Championship Table] from the International Cricket Council, retrieved 7 January 2006] .

Pakistan won the Test series, claiming the third Test after 36 wickets fell in the first two games combined, while India took the ODIs by a comfortable 4–1 margin.

quads

Day 1

Both sides made two changes, with India dropping Sourav Ganguly and Ajit Agarkar for Zaheer Khan and R. P. Singh, with Agarkar suspected to have a hamstring injury. India elected to choose five bowlers on what was an excellent batting pitch. This is the first time that a Test team has fielded three left-arm fast bowlers. Pakistan dropped Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and the ill Mohammad Sami, with Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Asif coming in [ [http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2006/jan/21team.htm Ganguly, Agarkar dropped] from rediff.com, published 21 January 2006] .Pakistan won the toss, batting first to reach 4/379 at stumps with Inzamam-ul-Haq & Shahid Afridi approaching centuries, on 79 and 85 respectively. On a tough day for bowling, R. P. Singh made a promising debut, taking three wickets.

Day 2

Play resumed on say two with Razzaq replacing Inzamam, who was confined to the dressing room due to a back injury. Afridi reached 156 from just 128 deliveries before being dismissed, ending a combined partnership of 257 with Inzamam and Razzaq. Inzamam returned to complete his century (47), and free-spirited hitting on a benign pitch by Shoaib Akhtar (119) allowed Pakistan to reach 588. R. P. Singh took 4/89, the best bowling figures. India started their reply confidently until Virender Sehwag (31) was dismissed. Captain Rahul Dravid (46*)and V. V. S Laxman (28*) proceeded cautiously to end the day at 1/110.

Day 3

Laxman and Dravid batted fluently throughout the first session to reach lunch at 83 and 97 respectively. India suffered a collapse after lunch, losing 4/45 as Laxman (90), Dravid (103, run out), Sachin Tendulkar (14, walking despite replays suggesting he missed the ball) and Yuvraj Singh (4) were all dismissed. However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (116*) and Irfan Pathan (49*) counter-attacked to save the follow-on to close at 5/441.

Day 4

Dhoni and Pathan continued their partnership until Dhoni (148) was stumped trying to loft Kaneria over midwicket, ending a 210-run partnership. Pathan fell short of a century (90), but the tail wagged (Harbhajan Singh 38, Zaheer Khan 20*) to give India 603, and a slender lead of 15. Pakistan started their second innings confidently, reaching 1/152 at the close with Younis Khan on 64 and Kamran Akmal (opening in place of Shoaib Malik who had returned to Sialkot to be with his gravely ill father) on 59.

Day 5

Akmal was dismissed on 78, but Younis reached his fourth century in as many Tests against India. Along with Mohammad Yousuf (126), they added 262 for the third wicket. The loss of Razzaq (32) and Younis (194) caused a collapse of 5/2 reduced Pakistan to 8/490. This was the end of the innings, as both Inzamam and Malik were unavailable to bat. Zaheer Khan took 4/61. India batted 8 overs to reach 0/21 were the match was drawn.

As the game faded away, both wicket-keeper Dhoni and Younis Khan, infrequent bowlers at international level, took the new ball. R. P. Singh was named the Man of the Match, on his debut.

Third Test: Pakistan v India (29 Jan-02 Feb)

Third ODI: Pakistan v India (13 February)

Notes