Teammates celebrate after Pakistan won the ODI match against India at
the 2014 Asia Cup in Dhaka. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: Mercurial Pakistan were at their unpredictable best in the do-or-die Asia Cup encounter against India, the biggest of the ‘Big Three’ of international cricket.
Towards the end of the thriller, Pakistan were down and out with 10 needed off five balls. At the crease was the enigmatic Shahid Afridi. The Afridi whirlwind began as a frenzied crowd watched with bated breath. Two strikes, two agonisingly short sixes that barely cleared the ropes, and Pakistan clinched a goosebump-ish win.
The men-in-green knocked out the powerful India, a team that is said to be responsible for 80% revenue that the International Cricket Council (ICC) earns. Unless a major upset occurs over the next few days, Pakistan will most likely face Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final, while Virat Kohli’s men will head home.
Afridi’s heroics are set to endear him to his fans again. A man who has often been criticised for his approach has perhaps buried the ghosts of the past with a performance that revived memories of Javed Miandad’s last-ball six in Sharjah all those years ago. The stunning win has also rekindled the belief that Pakistan cricket is alive and kicking despite their supposed isolation due to the vehement opposition to the reforms in the governing body of the game ala ‘Big Three’ the national team continues to dazzle on the field.
While Asia Cup is not yet won, the national team has indeed won the hearts of its massive fan club that transcends all ethnic divides, across Pakistan. Frenzied celebrations began across the country as Afridi & Co raised their arms aloft after vanquishing their archrivals.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (87)
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@indian Cricketer: Exactly the Pakistani youngsters played at least final in U19 world Cup...... the indian were not there so sad.......... anyhow it shows what would be your next so called strong team. hahah
When will these matches be played in Pakistan.How long can Pakistan go to other nations to play their game.No one wants visit and play there because of fear of bombings and blatings.
@Krish: No matter what u say, India, your team has won only 1 odi of its last FIFTEEN. #FACT
@Saleem: I have also heard the commentator who were telling about the dew, the nature of Afridi's sixes and shorter boundary,it was not my own invention.Cricket is game of luck ,otherwise it would not have been so exciting and as the game was decided in the last 3 balls shows team finally defeated have given good fight.I am not taking credit from Pakistan from winning the game but fighting spirit of Indian team should need to be acknowledged also.In your last comment you shamed Indians for not finding talented players from billion population as you forgot that Indian team is world Champion and also Champion of Champion trophy- in both the contest Pakistan was defeated.Billions of Indians do not play Cricket only but their talent flourishes as head of International Corporate Houses like Microsoft,Pepsi,Cisco, etc
@waterbottle - I guess, you're the only one with perspective, talking sense here. All these cola-gulping Indians and Pakistanis are high on a game that's not recognized or played by major countries of this world. Nor does this game as gruelling as say soccer or tennis.. But hey who cares when we're the world champions (in a small pond though).
P.S. - If the Americans, Russians or Chinese start playing cricket, we would definitely be at the bottom of the heap.. However we would fight to push Pakistan at the nth position and pat ourselves on our backs if we are at n-1 (everything else doesn't matter).
Thank God....no one is blaming that the match was fixed.
@Krish:
Brother Krish remember, it is money because of Cricket and not Cricket because of money. Pakistan beat India in the ongoing Asia cup but you still have the guts to term Pakistan team as Minnows. A team becomes big by performance and not by generating money.
stan @Krish: Brother Krish remember money is because of Cricket and Cricket is not because of money. India was beaten in Asia cup on Sunday last and you have the guts to term Pakistan team as Minnows.
@Prakash: Most people watch games on TV, the reason why BCCI is so super rich, and the high definition cameras and commentators show and tell respectively just about all the details one needs to know about the ground conditions and the match. Hope this answers the question about Dew. It was sheer cricketing luck I suppose that the umpires from the Big 3 made significant errors when giving not outs earlier. It was also sheer luck that Hafeez dropped a simple catch of Jadeja. As far as I can see the game was in Pakistan's favour throughout including the first session and only towards the end that we lost wickets and India smelt hope only to be taken away by Afridi. Btw, its only Afridi whose mishits would have gone over the ropes, its brute force but I will take it. I agree its a game and a better team wins on a given day so better give credit like few of the other Indians here have done than argue.
Big 3 is a governing body and BCCI is one of the boards. Indian squad has nothing to do with BIG 3. India is just another team.
@Indian Cricketer: one of the top 3 by inviting teams to your congested land and playing with supportive umpires like in this last match when the petty big 3 umpires refused to give your paper lions out LBW
@Saleem: It looks as if you were there on the ground to testify there was no dew, when it is normal in winter .And I did not lament about Dhoni's absence so going on the trajectory over that does not seem prudent.It was cricketing luck of Afridi that his both sixer were not from the middle of the bat and barely crossed the boundry ,which was also shorter in this ground.Indian Captain Kohli was satisfied by the efforts of his players, so there is no point of anguish for India.It is game and one team will win.
This is a fluke win for pakis, but pakis still have to beg the BCCI for international tours no matter how many times you beat the biggest of the "big 3".
@Krish: That fact has more to do with India's failure of population control than it does with cricketing ability
@Krish: What ? No congrats to Pakistan team. At least be gracious in defeat.
@Rajesh: Every single cricket match is decided on luck. Please learn to accept defeat gracefully. You guys sound like a bunch of sissies making excuses for the Indian cricket, thus some are resorting to referring to the monetary influence that India has over ICC. You lost fairly and squarely. Instead of whining, just get over it and let Pakistan celebrate a well earned victory!
@Rajesh:
We celebrate our lives daily in Pakistan. Don't know where you get off with silly comments that are purely fed by the media. You know there are 180 million of us and we get along with our lives quite well despite some problems that are limited to a part of the country.
Well, first of all congratulations to Pakistan. A win is a win, no matter it is achieved like champs or on the last ball with a lucky shot. Regarding the headline of this article I can only say that india would always be the 'biggest of the big three ' irrespective of the result of any particular match, though the headline indeed shows the agony and frustration of the writer over the recent changes in ICC and status of BCCI thereafter . Indian team is definitely going through a tough time currently but if that arouses any suspicion in any one's mind about their talent and potential of world champions, then I can only feel sorry about him.
@krish so you support the monopolising of cricket on the basis of money. what crap. cricket should be like football, no one country should be able to control anything, and things should be proven by performance on the field, not in the bank.
If this gives the muslims some consolation.
Why does everything have to become WAR between India and Pakistan??? It was a great day for cricket and both of the countries played really really well! I have a lot of Indian fans and it was a lot of fun watching this match with them as both me and my friends were on the edge of our seats the entire match! With my indian friends being astonished with each Ajmal doosra and I being wowed by Rahane's fielding at point (his throws hit the stumps every time!!!), and both of us laughing at the stupid Pakistani runouts. If only Pakistan and India were able to make an Ashes like series in the subcontinent (my indian friend suggested the name Dev-Khan Series), cricket will not only survive but it will flourish all over the world. Pak/India matches have always had monster potential and will generate a lot of revenue. It's about time Pak/India put their issues aside and fulfill their global potentials! or at least start play more cricket together so the fans can enjoy it!
Howcome they be recognized as "big 3", if we havent voted for them to be.
@Saurabh: OMG... someone appears to be very jealous... LOL
@Pin2: Your comment made my day.. just shows how immature your thinking is... "shots were not from the middle of the bat"... So what? I rather win with not middle of the bat shot than lose by playing a perfect shot...
@Pin2:
"Congrats Pakistani for a lucky win. It was a 1 wicket win made possible by 2 lucky shots of a inconsistent player both of which were not even from the middle of the bat."
Can you define 'unlucky win'?
@Saurabh: awww, i guess you couldn't sleep all night, better luck next time. :)
Congrats to all Pakistanis! I am so happy that Afridi has got his due. He would always look so stressed out. He was part of the Hyderabad IPL team, Deccan Chargers which is now Sunrisers. We were devastated when he was not selected [since the 2008 attacks]. Hope he plays for Hyderabad again and captains it. Shahid bhai please come to Hyderabad. Parvez Rasool from Kashmir is in the team now.
OMG look! Pakistanis jumping in glory like they conquered the moon. LOL.
@Indian Cricketer:
Were you a part of the losing team? I'm curious because your name is Indian cricketer.
Anyways, India is still the world champions, as you asserted in a game that is played by 5% of the world's countries. And none of these countries are top athletic countries (no China, USA, Canada, Russia to begin with). Rest of the world considers cricket as one of the stupidest sports. Why don't you boast here about the position of Indians in world soccer, basket ball, volleyball, even hockey, tennis etc.
Before you accuse the Pakistanis, know that I am an Indian.
Let India and Pakistan always play cricket and forever shun the idea of hostilities and enmity against each other..!
Let us live in peace forever..!
Happy New Year 2014 – to all the Indians – from Pakistan with love
New Year Resolution – From Pakistan With Love to All the Indians
While wishing all the Indians a very happy and prosperous new year 2104, we would like to inform everyone in India that if at all we have to be friends, then that friendship must be in true sense; and we must not act and behave with each other in a hypocritical manner.
We would also like to assure the Indians that even if we wanted we can’t conquer India. At the same time even if India wanted, it can’t pull down Pakistan, without India being destroyed as well.
So, why to waste our time and energies in an imaginary hatred policies. Why to waste our precious resources, in being the prisoners of our foolish past.
From the first day of the new year 2014, let us bury our bitter past and be friends in true sense, like all the European countries.
Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Let us have a genuine peace. Let India remove all its strike forces corp from the border without any fear.
Let us join hands to wage a war against poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy.
Let us turn this subcontinent a bastion of peace and a heaven on earth.
Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.
India and Pakistan just need a period of single decade of genuine peace to turn around its fortunes to emerge as the most potent economic and cultural power house of this world.
The only condition is the genuine and authentic peace like the one which exists in between the EU countries.
Don’t be afraid of problems between the two countries, because they will remain for ever, but we have to give priority to peace over the problems.
Let us make a new start from the beginning of the new year 2014, with the slogan – Long live the friendship of the teeming millions of India and Pakistan.
@Krish: You are right...India is the biggest hypocrite.
Congrats Pakistani for a lucky win. It was a 1 wicket win made possible by 2 lucky shots of a inconsistent player both of which were not even from the middle of the bat.
I can see why Pakistanis are going bonkers. Any ways, enjoy the moment while you are in it.
cheers
Look at the flip side. Those two sixes will ensure Afridi will stay in the Pak team for the next five years. Good-luck with that! :D
As an Indian, I can say the best team won on the day. Good game which I think both sides enjoyed playing and us watching. Let's hope now Pakistan have found their old ways and are back as the contenders they should have always been. Good luck.
@Saleem: Infact you have yet to find a replacement to Waqar, Akram, Yousuf, Younis, Misbah and Afridi
Congratulations Pakistan team. You played well and were desrving winners.
This match could have been won easily in 45th or 46th over. Indian, even with full strength, is an ordinary bowling side. Had Misbah not been run out, Kohli would had five less overs of the ordeal.
Anyway, well played Pakistan. Go, get the cup now.
As long as India maintains its no loss record with Pakistan in World Cups, where it actually matters, I am not worried.
@Shamy: "and with this, Afridi has made his place in the team for the next 10 years no matter how badly he performs." after this match we will not mind if he play even for the next 20 years. YOU LOSER
@Krish: Dream on Krish, just as the movie Krish is never going to be a reality, so is supremacy of India in World Cricket.
@Krish: The obsession of Indians with "size / number" ..... how difficult / painful it is to say "well played Pakistan" ......
How come I'm not seeing any Indian trolls here?
plz check victory and losses table of india vs pak matches.......
Viva! Bravo! Shabash Pakistan! It was a hotly contested match of Asia Cup 2014, between two highly competitive teams and played very amicably with the spirit of the game looming high. It can be nearly be compared to a pre-Eid night celebration. Mubarak ho Pakistan and Mr. Najam Sethi! Your inspiration and knowledge is serving Pakistan well. Salams
Loved the title of the news. The thing I am loving even more that some Indian friends are still trying to justify something and troll Pakistan. Keep it up Indians, I love it when you do that, it makes me laugh!
@Prakash: There was no due yesterday. Out of a billion people you don't have a couple of seasoned players to cover for injured Dhoni? That's a shame. We don't have Irfan, are we crying over it? Should we not have enough bench strength to cover for injured players? BCCI with all the money can atleast buy KP or Gayle or someone like them ... no excuses please.
@Indian Cricketer
Sore loser. Your team was given two chances and yet they lost. Don't forget that our team had plenty of youngsters too. Let me remind you that it was Tallah- the young debutante- who struck the critical blow that crippled the Indian team in the first place. Anyway, keep on making up excuses for the Indian teams abysmal performance. At least the other two Big Three back up their title with performance and not just financial clout.
Pakistan's triumph is a big blow on the feudalistic mindset of Big3! Play demands physical strength not economic strength!
By the way Boom Boom Afridi!
@Indian Cricketer: When BCCI was poor, the game was flourishing ... now businessmen are flourishing and game is dying ... and you ordinary people are out there defending BCCI as if all this is your money ... as if it's a matter of national pride ... c'mon guys wake up!
@water bottle: Unfortunately both Bangladesh and Afghanistan have already been bought by super rich BCCI, they are not going to even try to beat them LOL though quite capable ... as per BCCI's new 20 year plan, they will 'invest' some of the billions sitting in the coffers into buying runs and wickets from opposition LOL that way they'll become champs on the field also.
@ajay gupta:
You've lost from South Africa to New Zealand and now even in B'desh, and you still talk haha.
Where are India's Afghani and Bangladeshi friends who got to know from some parrot that India will win LOL ... poor parrot must have been killed by now :)
@Krish: What's the plan for converting BCCI's billions into buying runs and wickets? You know in video games one can buy lives and stuff. This way India will be The Biggest on the field also with some loss of revenue LOL
It was pure luck. If India batted second, india would have won. There should be a Duckworth/Lewis type of calculation considering the due factor. Team bowling second has a distinct disadvantage. India did well to take it to the 50th over.
But I will say, well played afridi, not pakistan.
Kholi : "Those last two sixes were not quite off the middle of the bat. One side was a small boundary"
this shows how mature Kholi is, Indian team lacks the sporting spirit & maybe this is the very reason they've been avoiding full series with Pakistan!
Congratulations Pakistan, well played & good luck for the finals!
Goes to show that you can buy the umpires and everything but you can't buy talent. Lolz at biggest of big 3
Lala day... Lala simply rocked under pressure.... Respect for lala
Where are my ''keyboard warrior'' brothers today ? Maybe they have all decided to go on a long chai break ?
ET should experience a good 30-40% drop in traffic today. One can only imagine as to what could be causing so little traffic ??
Moments of celebration come very rarely in pakistan. So enjoy the moment folks. Congrats pakistan.
Standby for the stream of vitriol and hate filled comments from across the eastern border. The language would be exquisite and squeaky clean grammar wise with an overall overtly aggressive tone.
Due to dew factor,in this Asia cup, every time, team chasing is likely to win.So the moment India loss the toss- the game was decided, I therefore think Indians put a good fight.-as the match was decided in the last over by two sixes of Afridi.
Afridi produced exactly what he was always capable of but rarely expected to. Good days for Pak cricket badly needed for overall health of the game.
Boom Boom !!!
Missing Indian trolls.. ET wont publish this comment since they care more abt the sentiments of our neighbours than their own countrymen
Congratulation Pakistani team and people of Pakistan.
As always no indians seen trolling today? lol
Pakistan Zindabad!! be prepare for a lot of strikes inside Pakistan.
one swallow does not make a summer.& this is not even the final & yes, india has been consistently the biggest contributor to the ICC kitty...a fact that is unlikely to change in the near future.
Yes the full strength Pakistan team was stretched to the last over by the young indian team. They won by just a whisker and mind you the big three are according their contribution of money to ICC If "The Biggest of Big Three" stop loving cricket, the game gonna die. Even the Mercurial Pakistan will be able to revive it!
Congrats Pakistani Team ! You deserve the limelight. Great Job!
A dream came true.....Lala is the greatest.......Pakistan zinda baad.
and with this, Afridi has made his place in the team for the next 10 years no matter how badly he performs.
Sealing victory Afridi style.All loves you lala.
Lala forever :) Love you man ... I do suffer heart attacks everytime he comes to bat but the best is when he performs like that makes up for all of the misfires ... absolutely loving it right now :)
The Beast of Kohat
hahah, As predicted. See my comment on other story. LOL. India lost
Whether it's a win or loss, India will remain biggest of big three and Pakistan was, is and will remain a minnow.
"Unless a major upset occurs over the next few days, Pakistan will most likely face Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final" copied from espncricinfo ;)