More than two years since the last meeting between the two teams, India arrived in Pakistan in November 1989 to play four Test matches and four ODIs.
If the last series had seen the retirement of an Indian great in the form of Sunil Gavaskar from test cricket, this one saw the debut of a man who would go on to emulate and then exceed his achievements, Sachin Tendulkar.
Karachi was the venue for the first Test match.
Pakistan won the toss and batted. Ramiz Raja made 44, Shoaib Mohammed 67 and Javed Miandad 78. Captain Imran Khan emerged as their top scorer, with unbeaten 109, in an innings that contained a six and 17 fours. His efforts helped Pakistan close on 409. For India, Manoj Prabhakar took 5-104 and Kapil Dev 4-69. Mohammad Azharuddin, a last-minute inclusion after Raman Lamba's injury, held five catches.
India initially struggled in their reply, losing their first six wickets for just 85. Debutant Tendulkar made 15 before being bowled by fellow debutant Waqar Younis.
A stand of 78 between Ravi Shastri and Kapil helped stop the rot. After Kapil fell for 55, scored off just 50 balls, with eight fours, Shastri and Kiran More combined to add 57 for the eighth wicket before Shastri was out for a patient 45. India reached 262. For Pakistan, the fast bowling pair of Waqar and Wasim Akram took four wickets each.
Pakistan batted again, looking to set India a challenging total. At 109/4 India seemed to be containing them, but Shoaib and Saleem Malik added 141 for the fifth wicket. Shoaib fell for 95, while Malik remained unbeaten on 102 not out, when the innings was declared on 306/5.
That meant India needed a notional 453 to win, although, at that stage, the only goal was to save the game.
They did that with ease. Navjot Sidhu and Sanjay Manjrekar put on 135 for the second wicket. After Sidhu fell for 85, Manjrekar then added another 78 with Azharuddin, and then a further unbroken 47 with Shastri. When the bails were finally removed, India were 303/3, with Manjrekar unbeaten on 113, having struck 13 fours.
The match was drawn.