They were the last ranked team (8th) to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Ahead of their first game, they faced severe criticism because they had to play against their arch-rivals, Team India. People on the Twitter left no chance to troll them using the age old phrase,”Baap Baap Hota Hai, Beta Beta Hota Hai.” From a common Indian man to famous Bollywood celebrities, all took jibes on them. Once people finished trolling them on their performance, they picked skipper Sarfraz’s spoken English and took the toll. When all these craps didn’t seem enough, a veteran cricketer of their own country alleged that they fixed their later games. But the players of this team had something else inside their heads. Instead of noticing who is saying what, they focused on their game. And finally, by the tournament end, they emerged as the Champions. Pakistan lifts the ICC Champions Trophy 2017!
Though they fell on their knees against India in the first game but they worked hard to prove the entire world wrong. Coach Mickey Arthur had that trust in this bunch of young talents and trained them accordingly. They simply focused on their game and worked on the loopholes to make it better for the future. Their hard work paid off and they booked their berth in the finals where they had to face India once again.
The Pakistan team looked in a totally different avatar in the big finals. The Pakistan opening pair of Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman looked no less furious than that of Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar. Both Ali and Zaman added a total of 128 runs while Fakhar Zaman turned out to be the hero for the ‘Pakistani Awaam’. The way this youngster laid the foundation of Pakistan victory was terrific. He played as if he carries an experience of several years. The way he punished Indian spinners was dangerous. These two Pakistani lads pumped the enthusiasm in the entire team. As a result, Mohammad Hafeez was also back and he did the left-over job for his team.
Pakistan’s openers both hit fifties to build a solid platform for their middle order
https://t.co/qHhXwHgyd2
https://t.co/p53W61uveJ pic.twitter.com/uD9Eqjyv2B— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017
On the other hand, the Indian bowlers looked helpless against them. Along with missing several runout chances, they also failed to take wickets anyway.
In the later half, the Pakistani bowlers choked the Indian batsmen and murdered their batting. Mohammad Amir was completely on fire and in the initial over, he didn’t give any scope to the batsmen to settle down. Neither did Junaid Khan or Hasan Ali. This pace trio haunted the Indian Cricket Team and played the best cricket of lifetime.
13 wickets
Golden Ball
Player of the TournamentWhat a #CT17 Hassan Ali had! pic.twitter.com/Y4vX5bScNr
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2017
Mohammad Amir is on ! #PAKvIND #CT17 pic.twitter.com/D4teC2HMm9
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017
They bundled up defending champions of this-this tournament withing 158 runs and won the game by 180 runs.
The best part of the game was the post-match presentation where skipper Sarfraz revealed how they achieved this feat. As he said, for many of the players like Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, it was the first ever ICC tournament. The people doubted their capability and claimed they can’t beat India. But the entire team turned out to be the Dark horses of this big event where the green jersey and green flag dominated all around.
Cricket World Cup
World Twenty20
Champions TrophyPakistan’s trophy cabinet is complete! pic.twitter.com/DRfEBm66uT
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2017
Being a cricket fan, I could say that this Pakistan team has probably competed to the team lead by former cricketer Imran Khan which lifted the 1992 ICC Cricket World Cup. Even Virat Kohli didn’t hesitate to state that Pakistan played with complete intent and they definitely deserve to win the game.
Captain fantastic, @SarfarazA_54! #CT17 pic.twitter.com/TA2NqlxUYh
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2017
Hear from the two skippers, @imVkohli and @SarfarazA_54, in their post match interviews!
https://t.co/FysFm3PoZi #PAKvIND #CT17 pic.twitter.com/YMl0PsJgoL
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2017
Well, we respect the spirit of cricket above all and despite all cross-border tensions, we wish a healthy cricket environment for both the nations!
A very happy @SarfarazA_54 has a message of thanks for all the Pakistan fans after their #CT17 triumph. pic.twitter.com/hb1kcU4b6d
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2017
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