'Another Pak-Ind final will spice up CT'

The ever-energetic Sarfaraz Ahmed has a wish that fans around the world watch another India-Pakistan final in the forthcoming Champions trophy, declaring it would be the biggest match in recent years.

"Another India-Pakistan final in the coming Champions trophy would be a dream one and fans around the world will die over it," Sarfaraz, Pakistan's captain when they won the 2017 Champions Trophy, told Telecomasia.net. "It would be a double joy for the fans in Pakistan if it could be staged in Lahore because our people also want to see Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Pant and Bumrah playing on their grounds."

The 2017 Champions trophy in the UK was a unique ICC event in the way that it had two high-voltage Indo-Pak matches. The first of the two was at Edgbaston in Birmingham and the first for Sarfaraz as skipper.

"I had played as a player against India before but the one we had in 2017 was my first as skipper against India and it turned out to be a nightmare," recalls Sarfaraz of Pakistan's 124-run thrashing -- their biggest defeat in the rivalry. "It was a big jolt and we were morally down. But everyone realised that we cannot win the trophy if we play like that. There was hard talk and promises of a big lift."

Pakistan had the better of South Africa in a rain-hit second match on DLS method. They were staring at the exit gate in the next game against Sri Lanka at Cardiff. "It was a quarter-final for us," recalls Sarfaraz. "

After dismissing their opponents for 236, Pakistan were themselves struggling at 162-7 when Sarfaraz joined Mohammad Amir in a match-winning unbroken 8th wicket stand of 75 runs. Sarfaraz termed Amir's knock better than his. "It was Amir's innings that inspired me and I was dropped twice so luck was on our side," said Sarfaraz whose team beat hosts England in the semi-final at Cardiff to set up a mouth-watering final with India.

"We were very confident that this time we will win," said Sarfaraz of the final at The Oval. "Fakhar Zaman saw a dream that we have won the final and were wearing white jackets as winners and it was a dream come true.

"Fakhar batted extraordinarily well and got a reprieve when he was out off Jasprit Bumrah's no ball. We had a formidable total of 338-4 with a century from Fakhar. Then Amir bowled the spell of his life and broke the back of India's batting with wickets of Rohit, Kohli and Dhawan. "

Sarfaraz remembers the moment when Azhar Ali dropped Kohli off Amir, first ball. "We were all down but I lifted everyone. I knew that the way Amir was bowling we would get Kohli and next ball we had him caught. It was wonderful bowling."

Sarfaraz remembers the victory as the best of his life. "I cannot forget that triumph. When I took the last catch I had not realised what we had achieved. Whenever that catch comes on television I have goosebumps.

"We were aspiring to wear the white coat and on June 18, 2017 we wore that. It was the most memorable day of my life. When we returned home the whole Pakistan celebrated the win. It took me several hours to reach my home from the airport because of the crowd."