From the vault: Saqlain, Waqar's eid gift to Pakistan fans in 2000

Pakistan and India matches are a treat for not only the cricket crazy fans from both countries but for the world as well.

In the year 2000, Pakistan was scheduled to play a tri-nation series hosted by Australia with India also a part of it.

Each team was supposed to face the other two opponents four times in group matches before two finals could be played.

Pakistan beat India thrice and lost once. Australia beat Pakistan by the same margin in the group matches, while India was clean-sweeped by the Kangaroos on all four occasions.

Australia and Pakistan met in the finals and the former dominated the latter courtesy the magical bowling pair of economical Glenn McGrath and furious Brett Lee's who were in exceptional form.

But the highlight of the series still remains the partnership between Pakistan tail-enders, Saqlain Mushtaq and Waqar Younis.

In the second of group matches, Pakistan came in confidently after beating Australia by 45 runs in the opening match of the tournament.

India won the toss and elected to bat first. Shoaib Akhtar was venomous with his pace and took three wickets for 19 runs in his eight overs. Half-centuries from left-hand batsman Sourav Ganguly and another lefty Robin Singh led the men in blue to a meagre total of 195 in 48.5 overs.

Pakistan, riding on the confidence from the Australia win tried to hit back strong but lost their stepping and were 71-6 in their chase in 21.4 overs. Right-hand middle-order batsman Muhammad Yousuf then stuck on the crease with captain Wasim Akram till the scoreboard showed 120, but the latter’s woodwork was rattled by Ganguly on 24.

Yousuf partnered up with Saqlain and tried to steer the team to victory but was caught by a substitute fielder off right-arm pacer Javagal Srinath’s slow ball. Waqar walked in to join Saqlain and what happened then was phenomenal.

The pair kept the asking rate in check with quick running between the wickets and ended up with only one run required to win with scores level and one ball remaining. The bowler was right-arm fast-bowler Venkatesh Prasad.

Prasad ran in to bowl and as soon as he crossed the umpire he stopped and tried to check Waqar’s run at the bowler’s end, but unsuccessfully. He walked back, ran in again and came up with a short-pitched delivery which Saqlain missed but both players ran as if the world was coming to an end. Jubilations, celebrations, hugs, Sajdas and everything else followed.



It was the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr in the year 2000 and it was the perfect treat to sweeten the day for Pakistanis.