2nd ODI: Past records at Eden completely favour Pakistan

There may be a first for everything but past records in cricket also holds credible weightage. Pakistan team may just be banking on this fact as they get set to take on India in the second ODI of the series at the Eden Gardens - a venue on which they have never lost to the hosts and just once to a foreign team.

The Eden Gardens has been a happy hunting ground for Pakistan since the national team played here for the first time in 1987. Despite Kris Srikkanth's heroic 123, the visitors managed to go past the finishing line by 2 wickets. Chasing 238 in 40 overs, Rameez Raja and Younis Ahmed (58 each) were the men in-charge.

Two years later, both teams met once again in the Nehru League match and the result this time was even more emphatic. Pakistan won the match by 77 runs with Mushtaq Ahmed claiming three wickets. The team followed this win with another, this time against West Indies in the same tournament.

In fact, the only occasion when Pakistan lost a match here was to Sri Lanka in 1997. Playing the final of Independence Cup, Sri Lanka's total of 309 was just too much to chase.

When India last played Pakistan here, the hosts were unable to change their dismal statistic here, losing by 6 wicket in the BCCI Platinum Jubilee match.

This time too, the momentum is with Misbah-ul-Haq's side with the first match already sealed in their favour. A win here would hand the trophy to them and in turn, put a whole lot of pressure on the hosts - already bruised from earlier defeats.

Note: The above is only taking ODIs played at Eden into account.