After that Group
B defeat to India, coach Micky Arthur described it as “a reality check of where we are in ODIs”. Seeing as
Pakistan were ranked eighth entering the competition, this seemed an
appropriate response. So how did his charges transform so quickly from
no-hopers into irresistible champions?
I suspect the answer is not a simple one; a mix of good
fortune, hard work, strategy and brilliant individual performances when it
mattered. The India opener excepted, Pakistan’s strength lay with their seam
bowlers. The strategy of softening up the opposition with Mohammad Amir and
Junaid Khan, entice them with the spinners then – POW! – introduce Hasan Ali
and bring back the opening pair. Crucial spells did for South Africa and Sri
Lanka then in the Cardiff semi, everyone played their part in a game few
expected them to win.
The England engine room of big hitters failed miserably
to attack the Pakistan bowlers of all speeds. Yet again it was Hasan who stole
the show with three wickets but the team’s major improvement was in their batting.
Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman shared a century partnership before Babar Azam and
Mohammad Hafeez finished the job in style, defying the country’s reputation for
failed run chases.
Once India had made similarly short work of Bangladesh
the following day, the assumption was that Pakistan’s renaissance would come
unstuck against Kohli and co in the final. Surely the Indian batting would be
too strong even for a full-strength Pakistani pace attack?
The India skipper has been condemned for winning the toss
and inserting Pakistan. However, it’s not such a stupid decision when there are
himself, Sharma, Dhawan, Yuvraj, Dhoni et al to charge towards any target.
Where it began to look fragile was when newbie Fakhar followed his two 50s with
a maiden ODI century. Hafeez demonstrated his ability not only to plod in Tests
but also to strike sixes and suddenly they were 338-4. No probs. All week, counties
were knocking up scores of 350+ in the Royal London Cup so why not India?
Amir took the new ball and trapped Sharma plumb third
ball. His tail up, he continued to bowl superbly, ably assisted by Junaid, and
India’s famed batting order was in tatters. The top five were all back in the
pavilion with just 54 on the board and this time Sarfraz would not let his side’s
collective boot off the Indian neck. Pandya showed some aggression and singlehandedly
kept India in the hunt for three quarters of an hour. However, a farcical
run-out mess with Jadeja left the tail exposed and that man Hasan Ali did the
rest.
The 180-run victory margin was by far the biggest for a
side batting first in an ICC one-day final and high on the list for any global competition fixture against a
Test-playing nation. Hasan was named the Player of the Tournament, surely a
no-brainer. He took the most wickets (13), had the best average (14.69) and the
meanest economy rate (4.29). His youth (just 23) and inexperience were further
demonstrated by the necessity of using an interpreter for the post-match
interview. Ludicrously it was a one-sided translation so only Urdu speakers
were able to understand his answers! Hopefully we’ll hear, as well as see a lot
more of him in the future.
So are Pakistan now a global force once more, even without
the retired Younis and Misbah? The CT triumph will undoubtedly boost the
confidence of the team, the management and the PCA. New players have come
through fro the discredited domestic cricket set-up. And yet the latter’s
consistent cock-up tendencies will probably not disappear overnight.
And India? Well, their strength in depth is undimmed.
Even if MS Dhoni calls it a day, Kohli leads a formidable squad and they must
remain the side to beat when the World Cup comes along in 2019. England will
also be hoping to shrug off the Cardiff debacle, and become champions for the
first time ever.
Team of the
Tournament:-
Tamim Iqbal
(Ban), Dhawan (Ind), Kohli (Ind), Root (Eng), Williamson (NZ), Shakib (Ban), Sarfraz
(Pak + *), Plunkett (Eng), Junaid Khan (Pak), Hasan Ali (Pak), Hazlewood (Aus)
