The ghosts of the 1996 World Cup quarter-final between India and Pakistan continues to haunt the M. Chinnaswamy stadium, in Bangalore. So does the moment that lay in the heart of the contest.
Pakistan opener Aamir Sohail had hammered Venkatesh Prasad for four to the square boundary and brashly signaled the bowler to fetch the ball. The Indian paceman just turned his back and prepared to send down the next ball. He got in a leg-cutter, and Sohail went for a big heave but completely missed the line. The ball crashed into the off stump. It was Prasad's turn to promptly show him the way to the pavilion.
Nine years on, the two competitors were at the venue again. The backdrop: India versus Pakistan, third Test of the series.
Both are retired now. Prasad, who quit all forms of cricket only two days ago, was a VIP spectator during the first afternoon of the Test while Sohail is part of the television commentary team.
"It was just a normal game," said Sohail, recounting that match.
"The atmosphere was great and it was a very important game, but we approached it as any other game."
India scored 57 runs in the last four overs of the quarter-final, and that, according to Sohail, was the difference.
"[Ajay] Jadeja played the best knock of his life (45 not out) and we were suddenly chasing about 20-30 runs more that we had expected. The strategy was to make full use of the first 15 overs, exploit the gaps in the field even if we lost two wickets in the process.
"Saeed Anwar and I had a very good opening stand and our middle-order was very strong at that time. But it didn't help in the end."
Pakistan had a strong start to the 287-run chase. The first pair put on 94 runs in 11.3 overs. Then came Prasad's famous moment.
"I do hope people remember me for other achievements also," said the Indian bowler.
"But at that time, when Sohail hit the four and gestured, I just thought I want to get his wicket on the next ball. I was determined to do that and, luckily, that's what happened.
"It was a special moment, of course; it was at my home ground and in such an important occasion."
Sohail, for whom that was his only match at the Chinnaswamy, said nothing much has changed at the stadium in all these years.
"It's the same old Bangalore," though the numbers for the Test are nowhere near that of the epic game.
"I think it is a good crowd for a Test. You don't get more than these, especially on week days," he added.
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