Afridi and Co look to change history today by taming India in a World Cup clash for the first time
A few days after Pakistan fell to India in their World Cup 2011 semifinal clash in Mohali, Shahid Afridi confided in me how he and several of his team-mates had to take sedatives to be able to get some sleep. They were left shattered.
“It was easily the worst moment of my career, losing to India in India in a World Cup match. We really let our people down,” he said after failing in his quest to lead Pakistan to a world title.
Many feared that it was Afridi’s last chance.
But Afridi still believed that another opportunity will come his way. He never stopped praying for it.
“I really hope that God will give me one more chance to lead Pakistan to victory in a World Cup match against India and on Indian soil.”
Saturday’s ICC World Twenty20 game against the old foes at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens seems to be the answer to Afridi’s prayer.
Afridi prayed for this ‘mauka’ years before the ‘mauka mauka’ ad grabbed the attention of millions of fans on both sides of the border in the lead up to the Indo-Pak clash at World Cup 2015 in Adelaide. Pakistan, who have never beaten India in a World Cup game, crumbled in that match as well.
All eyes are now on Afridi as Pakistanis hope that their team will capitalise on the momentum generated by a 55-run triumph against Bangladesh and floor the Indians, who are under-pressure after being humbled by New Zealand.
The Pakistan captain, who struck form at the right time and was man-of-the-match in his team’s 55-run win against Bangladesh, appeared calm and composed on Friday.
He was all smiles and trained with ease at the Eden Gardens.
Having been gifted yet another chance, the onus is now on the veteran all-rounder to rewrite history and lead Pakistan to their first-ever World Cup win against India.
The stars are aligning for Pakistan. Their top order is beginning to show some spine; Mohammad Amir is breathing fire while Afridi is promising to put his best foot forward.
Such a ‘mauka’ won’t come again, at least not for Afridi unless Pakistan and India meet again in the final at Eden Gardens on April 4. They should grab it with both hands.
Agencies add: It is an India-Pakistan clash at a World tournament, and it will come with the inevitable trappings. Famous people will sing national anthems. Massive names will be present among the massive numbers in attendance. Sachin Tendulkar will be there. So will Imran Khan. And Sunil Gavaskar. And Wasim Akram. And Kapil Dev. And Inzamam-ul-Haq.
The format is such that a side needs to win three out of four matches to qualify for the knockouts. Hence, a loss for India will severely dent their chances of progressing. In their previous meeting, India bowled Pakistan out for their third-lowest Twenty20 total before Amir produced a splendid exhibition of fast bowling in a losing cause. But the numbers at Eden Gardens back Pakistan. Both teams will square off against each other at Eden Gardens for first time in a T20I, but, in their four previous meetings — all ODIs — India have failed to record a victory.
No reasons to change a combination that was dominating in their win against Bangladesh. Pakistan’s batting, having misfired frequently in recent matches, finally came together, and half-centuries from Ahmed Shehzad and Afridi’s 19-ball 49 took them to only their second 200-plus total in T20. With the ball, the three-way pace attack should be unchanged to give India a hard time.
Both sides have played just a match in the World T20 so far, but have had vastly different results. The pressure is now on India who had custard pie smashed on their faces by the largely unheralded spin trio of Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, and Nathan McCullum. Things seem to be falling in place for Pakistan at the right moment: the top order delivered on Wednesday against Bangladesh, as did Afridi.
The Kolkata pitch has been on the sluggish side, but Pakistan’s penchant for pace is their way of life. India’s middle order, which has been shielded by Kohli’s imperious form, was brutally exposed by New Zealand, and Dhoni conceded the batsmen lacked adaptability. Can the middle order produce a better riposte if Kohli’s bubble is burst again?
Teams (likely):
Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi (captain), Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Amir.
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra.
Today’s Fixture
Super 10 Group 2
Pakistan vs India
7:00 pm PST