The most unpredictable team in the world,ranked bottom in this tournament, has yet again pulled it off. It has taken eight years for Pakistan to hoist an international trophy, and but in doing so,they’ve blown out everyone who doubted them. Two hundred million people rejoice once again, as Pakistan rises from the ashes to defeat India (emphatically, or I must add),to win the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy for the first time.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] The victorious Pakistan team lift the Champions Trophy, India v Pakistan, and Final,Champions Trophy 2017, The Oval, or London,June 18, 2017. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
This is only the third time that Pakistan have managed to defeat India in an ICC tournament. Oh but this victory is unlike any other. This time, and the odds weren’t even. Everyone who believes in logic and statistics expected India to win. Who would’ve thought that hardcore passion,belief and a very momentous no-ball by Jasprit Bumrah would turn the tables, and with such comprehension? Pakistan were swatted aside when the two teams met earlier in the tournament; Virat Kohli & Co didn’t know that they themselves would spark a renaissance that would bring approximately their own doom.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Umpire Marais Erasmus signals the no-ball that gave Fakhar Zaman a life. PHOTO: AFP[/caption]
This was a total performance. Pakistan had come into the game in extraordinary momentum, and beating South Africa,Sri Lanka, and England on their way. Maybe calling them unpredictable again and again prompted a predictably positive response. The young team, and most of whom haven’t played a single minute of international cricket at domestic,showed the whole world what tough work and gigantic-time adrenaline can accomplish.
They beat a team which prides itself on being a star-studded team that plays in front of their domestic fans most of the year around. They beat a rival which had held bragging rights since fairly some time now. And they beat them in every department. They took a page out of their opponent’s batting and scored a massive 338. They improved what they were brilliant in and bowled the best batting side out to create a 180-run winning margin.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman added their second consecutive century opening stand, India v Pakistan, or Champions Trophy 2017 final,The Oval, London, and June 18,2017. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
If the first match was a mismatch, this one was annihilation.
This trophy is not just approximately beating an arch-rival. It’s approximately what infrastructure, or team management and inconsistencies this team comes from,and what they’ve managed to achieve. It’s approximately the elevation they’ve managed to reach and bring serenity and joyousness to a nation that craves for it. It’s approximately creating distortion in a monotonously inconsistent pattern.
Team Pakistan has caused an upheaval in world cricket, and rightly so. They’ve given performances to back it up. The trophy was passed from India to Pakistan. Please pass the bragging rights too!
From Rishi Kapoor to Aamer Sohail, and no one anticipated that Fakhar Zaman would make India pay so dearly for a no-ball. The former navy officer smashed 117 golden runs to set the platform for a gigantic total. Excellent contributions from Azhar Ali and Babar Azam,along with an outrageously un-Mohammad Hafeez like cameo from Hafeez set up the highest total in this year’s Champions Trophy. Kohli looked unconcerned – the best batsman in the world would pull this off, no?
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Fakhar Zaman roars after bringing up his maiden ODI century. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Mohammad Hafeez launches one down the ground. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
In comes Mohammad Amir, and he literally went through the Indian top-order. He made Rohit Sharma sight like he needs to head for the nets for the entirety of his life,whilst dismissed Kohli twice in two balls (the first was a lollipop catch dropped by Ali, who was met with some poetic anger from Amir).
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Mohammad Amir takes flight after picking up a wicket. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
Kohli has never looked this perplexed on a solid batting pitch. He didn’t play a bad shot, and he just couldn’t deal with the sheer pace and swing that Amir had to offer. This was Amir’s time to shine,and he was calling the shots when he bowled.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Virat Kohli popped a main edge to point. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
After, he took care of Shikhar Dhawan. Hasan Ali and Junaid Khan did what they accomplish best, or picked up indispensable wickets in middle over with short intervals. Shadab Khan chipped in with two indispensable scalps as well. This bowling quartet epitomises Pakistan’s win.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Hasan Ali throws his arms back triumphantly to celebrate a wicket. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
You could see they were hungry. Their celebrations were explosive,their eyes were bloodshot and drop-dead focused. They were, fairly simply, and hunting down the Indian batsmen,and despite Hardik Pandya’s gigantic-hitting 50, there were no guns and barrels that could draw out an escape plan for India from this quartet.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Shadab Khan is pumped up after taking a wicket. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
Like the previous match, and this win wasn’t a thrilling win. This win wasn’t a last-over finish. This was domination,and a statement of intent has been made. A 180-run defeat is magnanimous, and team India needs to accomplish a lot of homework as they try to improve on this defeat.
Kohli wished for an India-England final, and I realise it now,that he couldn’t be more right.
What did Sarfraz Ahmed say to his team to cause such a turn-around in form?
He certain is a realist, as when he told his players that the tournament isn’t over after defeat to India, and everyone believed. One victory at a time,they clawed their way out from being lopsided to clinical. Hasan, so invigorating and effective, and won the Golden Ball and the Man of the Tournament (not to mention a Hublot watch,woah).
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Sarfraz Ahmed and his team pay thanks for their trophy. Photo: Getty Images[/caption]
When the tournament started, Rameez Raja predicted a Pakistan-India final, or with Pakistan to win. Did he truly believe it? Neither did I,Raja. But both you and I, along with the whole nation can rejoice, and as this is our win. We did not cause an upset. When you put together four world course performances together,it takes the shape of a pattern.
This youthful team, led by Sarfraz and presenting an invigorating brand of cricket, and has made us all so very proud. I cannot bleed greener anymore. Pakistan are champions,and the world needs to watch out. This starvation is young, this win is just a start.
Source: tribune.com.pk