Champions Trophy 2017 (Road to Victory): Champions Trophy 2017 (Road to Victory)

Time flies very quickly! It’s been one year when we became the Champion so it’s a time to recall some of the memories.

Champion’s trophy 2017 was the 8^th and the last edition of ICC Champions trophy. It was held in England and Wales, Eight top ranked Odi teams participated in this tournament and were divided in 2 groups.

Pakistan was in Group B with its arch rival India.Pakistan started its journey of Champions trophy under the captaincy of Sarfraz Ahmed by playing first match against India on 4^th June 2017 in Edgbaston. Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first. Match was reduced to 48 overs due to rain. India posted a huge total of 319/3. Wahab Riaz recorded worst bowling figures in the history of CT, as he conceded 87 runs in 8.4 overs without any wicket. D/L method came into play and revised target for Pakistan was 289 runs in 41 overs. Pakistan batting collapse and all team were bowled out on 164 in 33.4 overs. India won by 124 runs and this was a huge defeat for Pakistan, Pakistani fans all over the world were disappointed, Players heads were down their confidence was shattered, media and former players started to bashing the players and team management for this defeat. Apparently it looked like the tournament was over for Pakistan as Pakistan had to win all the remaining matches to qualify for semis.

Pakistan played its 2^nd match against South Africa on 7^th June 2017 at the same venue. Pakistan made some bold changes, as Ahmed Shahzad was replaced by Fakhar Zaman, who is making his debut in big tournament and that too in seaming condition and Wahab Riaz was replaced by Junaid Khan. SA won the toss and elected to bat. Pakistan bowlers performed superbly and restrict SA to 219/8 in 50 overs. 2^nd half of the match was affected by rain and As per D/L method Pakistan won by 19 runs. Hassan Ali was declared player of the match for his bowling (8 Overs 24 runs 3 wickets) this victory brought some confidence back in players and the hopes of Pakistani Fans were remain alive. Now there was must win situation for Pakistan to qualify for semis.

On 12^th June 2017, Pakistan played its 3^rd match against SriLanka. Pakistan won the toss and decided to field. Pakistan bowlers started with the same momentum and bowled magnificently well, bowled out SL on 236 in 49.2 Overs. Openers gave positive start to Pakistan, Fakhar made his 1st Odi fifty. Once the openers departed, wickets stated trembling.It’s been a see saw situation for both teams and then Parera dropped the catch of sarfraz and that was proved to be the decisive moment of the match. Sarfraz led the Pakistan towards victory and he was awarded with player of the match award for his captain’s knock (61 not out 71 Balls). With this heroic victory Pakistan qualified for Semifinal and that was to be played against England which was most favourite team of tournament.

Semifinal was played on 14^th June 2017 and England was the hot favourite for this match. Pak won the toss and elected to field. Our bowlers once again showed their skills and proved their worth against the likes of Hales, Root, Morgan, Stokes, Buttler. Pak bowlers have done remarkable job and stop the England batting storm and bowled them out on 211 in 49.5 overs. Pak batsman easily chased this target and won the match by 8 wickets, Hassan Ali received player of the match award. This was the 1^st time that Pak had qualified for ICC Champion Trophy final by defeating England convincingly.

Who thought that Pakistan, who was cornered after the 1^st match, will play the final against the defending champions? All the Analyst, former cricketers, Cricket pundits declared Ind most favourite to win this final. Indian team, especially their batting, was much experienced as compared to young Pakistan site.

The most awaited Day came, Sunday 18^th June 2017, when the final of ICC Champions trophy was to be played between two Cricket loving nations India and Pakistan. It was called to be the mother of all cricket matches. Both teams arrived at the ground with one aim, to lift the Trophy.

Ind won the toss and decided to bowl. Pakistani openers looked shaky at the start against Indian bowling, Fakhar was caught by Dhoni but it was a no ball by Bumrah and that proved to be the turning point of the match. Fakhar got life and after that fakhar played aggressively hit bowlers all around the park and complete his maiden ODI century. Waao what a moment for him, a Pakistani player couldn’t ask for more than a century in final against Ind. Pak posted a total of 338/4 in 50 overs. It was thought that match will be a close one and perhaps Ind would be able to chase that target with their experienced batting lineup but Sarfraz& company had other ideas. Amir gave the perfect start to Pak and probably bowled the best spell of the tournament he picked the wicket of Rohit, Kohli & dhawan and who can forget the historical lines of English commentator “Nasir Hussain” on Kohli’s wicket “Brilliant from Amir Pakistan cricket at its best one minute down, next minute up”.

Indian batting lineup bamboozled by Pakistani pace attack and all the team were bowled out on 158 in 30.3 overs and Pakistan won the Champions Trophy first time.

Our players played like cornered tigers & showed the entire world that “We are the Champions” on the day we can beat any team and no one can ignored us in this game. And finally the moment came when our players lifted the trophy. The entire nation were happy & super excited we delivered the message to the world that you can’t take cricket away from us it’s not just a game for us cricket is our passion & romance. What a Sunday that turned out to be we became the champion of champions and we are proud of our boys. This victory will be remembered till the last breath.