It was some 40 years ago, when Pakistan, under Zia’s martial law was trying to come to terms with India, ruled by the first non-Congress Prime Minister, Morarji Desai. Cricket was not played between the two countries since 1961, but due to the close relations between the rulers, the ice finally began to break.

Asif Iqbal, the former one-day captain had announced his retirement from cricket. In an interview to the scribe he recalled, "During the West Indies tour, I was asked by Tony Grieg to join the World Series of Cricket. I agreed and even helped in recruiting various Pakistani players for the league. I informed the Cricket Board in Pakistan that Jamaica Test would be my last, and only a series against India can bring me back."

Finally, it happened as the dates of the much-awaited tour by India were announced, within a year of Asif’s temporary retirement. Pakistan was captained by Mushtaq Muhammad, while India was led by Bishen Singh Bedi. Both were team-mates at Northamptonshire, and were considered as close as brothers. The first Test at Sialkot ended in a draw, making it the 13th consecutive draw but the next two Tests broke the sequence.

27th October 1978, Lahore

Pakistan elected to field after Mushtaq won the toss. Mudassar Nazar and Saleem Altaf were brought in, the latter justifying his selection by dismissing Sunil Gavaskar in the third over of the match. Imran Khan and Sarfaraz Nawaz, with four wickets each, ripped through the batting line, restricting them to 199.

Majid Khan and the night watchman Wasim Bari added 125 runs for the second wicket on day 2, with the wicket-keeper falling short of his maiden hundred by 15 runs. Zaheer Abbas, who missed out scoring centuries in both innings in the last Test, was in sublime form. With 29 fours and 2 sixes, he scored his third double century; the first at home. His innings of 235 put Pakistan well ahead, enabling Mushtaq to declare on the third day, with a lead of 340 runs.

The opening pair from across the border put on 192 runs together, but Gavaskar and Chauhan were dismissed in their nervous nineties. 99 runs were added for the third wicket between Surinder Amarnath and Gundappa Vishwanth, the latter being dropped thrice during his innings. India ended day 4 at 307-3 and the match was heading towards a draw with Vishwanath on 41.

Playing in just his second Test, Kapil Dev was dismissed for 43, when the score was 371 early on the fifth day. 45 runs later, Vishwanath was bowled by Mudassar for 83, moments before lunch. Few minutes later, Mudassar removed Dilip Vengsarkar and Sarfaraz accounted for the junior Amarnath, reducing India to 415-7. Wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani used the tail well, but was left stranded on 39, as pacers did the required damage. Pakistan needed 126 runs for victory in just 100 minutes with no field restrictions in place.

The chase started with hard-hitting Majid Khan and snail-paced Mudassar Nazar. Bedi spread the field so the home batsmen were restricted to singles, but Majid took the bowlers to task, hitting them for calculated fours. On one occasion, with a packed leg side field, Kapil Dev bowled a wayward delivery, not ruled a ‘wide’ by the umpire. Majid removed a stump and placed it two yards left of the pitch, showing his anger. The next delivery was dispatched over the boundary for a six. Majid was dismissed for 38 when Pakistan’s score was 57-1. Zaheer Abbas and Asif Iqbal, centurion from Sialkot, joined hands for the ‘dream’ win. Time was running out, but the crowd was enthusiastic for the victory they had been waiting for, since 1955. Both batsmen used their county cricket experience to score the remaining runs and help register Pakistan’s first win against India at home with over seven overs to spare.

The final Test at Karachi was another cliff-hanger. Had India won, the match would have been remembered for Gavaskar’s centuries in both innings. All was going well until tea on the last day, 19th November 1978.

Kapil Dev and Ghavri, recalled in place of Prasanna, were batting with the scores in 30s and India was 160 runs ahead. It was in the opening minutes of the final session that Imran removed Ghavri and Sarfaraz got Kapil and Chandrashekar, for an addition of a mere three runs.

Pakistan needed 164 runs in 35 minutes plus the 20 mandatory overs (26 overs, to be exact). Something not even easy these days with T20 cricket so popular. Mushtaq Muhammad decided to reshuffle the batting order and asked Asif Iqbal, the vice captain, to open the innings with Majid Khan. Ironically, these two players had made their debut exactly 14 years back, against touring Australians; Hanif Muhammad, the elder brother of Mushtaq, was the captain and Majid and Asif were the opening bowlers.

This time around, the crowd was chanting their names, as they emerged from the pavilion. Majid Khan could not repeat the magic of Lahore, although he had scored a century before lunch at this ground two years back. Javed Miandad, who scored a century in the previous innings, was charged for the occasion. Asif Iqbal and 20-year-old Javed put on 97 runs in nine overs, which not only added pressure on the bowlers, it disturbed the fielders and confused Bedi, who fell short of options. The running between the wickets between these two is considered legendary, singles were taken when the ball was in the hands of the keeper; doubles when there were simple edges to the third man; they even ran four, when there seemed a slight chance of an over throw from the boundary. The crowd was thrilled by the bold and courageous game from players, who did everything to achieve the impossible. Asif was finally caught behind for 46, and entered Imran Khan.

It turned out to be a blessing, as the ‘change of guard’ proved even more expensive. Imran hit an already tense Bedi for a couple of sixes in a do-or-die over, and Pakistan romped home with more than an over to spare. The series ended the dull draws, and since then ‘Pakistan and India’ encounters have been keenly followed, watched and talked about.

The celebrations depicted unity, passion and love of the Gentleman’s game. It was still played in its ‘pure’ form. Asif Iqbal was generous to allow Zaheer Abbas to hit the winning six in Lahore Test, despite the fading light. Miandad’s crazy running surely made everyone angry, but it was the team that got the better of it. Still don’t remember if Zaheer bowed down to the ground after his hundreds or Imran Khan or Sarfaraz Nawaz did the same after getting crucial wickets. After the win in Karachi, there was jubilation in both camps as cricket between the two countries resumed. The sport bridged the gap between India and Pakistan and it still can.