With the series levelled 1-1, the third ODI between Pakistan and India in 1978/79 was a potential decider.
It also proved to be highly contentious and resulted in the first concession of a match by a visiting international captain.
The match was played at the Zafar Ali Stadium in Sahiwal, where Mushtaq Mohammad won the toss and chose to bat on a flat wicket. Although they got off to a decent start, some tight Indian bowling in the middle overs helped keep the scoring in check. Despite Asif Iqbal making 62 off 72 balls, Pakistan were restricted to 205/7 in 40 overs.
In reply, Chetan Chauhan and Anshuman Gaekwad made a good start for India, putting on 44 for the first wicket. When Chauhan fell for 23, Gaekwad and Surinder Amarnath shared a second-innings partnership of 119 that put India on track for a win. After Armanath was dismissed for 62, Gaekwad combined with Gundappa Viswanath as India continued to edge closer to their target.
India needed 23 from the last three overs, something that was well within their capability.
Sarfraz Nawaz was given the ball for the 48th over. His first delivery was a bouncer that sailed over the batter’s head and landed in the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
To the surprise of the Indians, it was not called a wide by the home umpires. They shrugged it off as an error of judgement. Surprise turned to astonishment when the same thing happened with the second ball, and then the third. The fourth bounced so high that the batter would have needed a stepladder to reach it.
The game plan was clear – to stop India scoring by bowling so short that they had no chance of hitting the ball.
In an era before neutral umpires became the norm under ICC rules, the fielding side was allowed to get away with this by the complicity of the local match officials.
After the fourth delivery of the over, the bewildered batters looked at their captain, Bishan Singh Bedi, in the pavilion. Bedi immediately signalled them to return to the changing room. The match was then conceded.
Sahiwal never hosted another match, whilst the reputations of both Sarfraz and Pakistan cricket were damaged.