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The T20 World Cup is back in India. The last time the tournament was held in the country was in 2016. But Pakistan did not had pleasent memories in that particular event, bar the game against Bangladesh. In a match where they should have won, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal somehow killed the match with the most unusual approach. I am revisiting that match and reminisce how Shehzad-Akmal’s test knock in a crucial T20 WC fixture killed Pakistan’s semi-final hopes.
New Zealand had a perfect start to their campaign, winning two out of two in the tournament. They comprehensively beat the host India and won a thrilling game against their neighbours, Australia. They needed a win against Pakistan to ensure their qualification for the semi-finals.
Pakistan started their campaign with a massive win against Bangladesh, which helped us gain a positive NRR. They had a chance against India after the hosts were reduced to 23-3 in chase of 119. But another Virat Kohli knock kept the record straight for India, giving them a 5-0 lead against us. The Green Team arrived in Mohali for a crucial fixture. Losing that game means their qualification would get tougher.
In the points table, New Zealand lead the group with 4 points, followed by Pakistan with 2 points, tied with Australia and India, but were ahead due to positive NRR. A win meant that Pakistan and New Zealand would have been on four points and would have given Pakistan a huge chance for the semi-finals. However, what I witnessed that evening was perhaps the most ridiculous batting I have seen.
Shehzad-Akmal’s test knock: The Set Up
In the evening in Mohali, Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat on a good-looking pitch. The then captain Shahid Afridi made a couple of changes; Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz were not “fit” to play and were brought in Khalid Latif and Imad Wasim. I raised my eyebrows at the exclusion of Hafeez. He has a better record against the Kiwis. At that time of record, Hafeez was the leading batter against New Zealand for Pakistan.
Anyways, New Zealand began the powerplay on a high note. They were 55-0. Martin Guptill did the bigger damage, and Kane was hanging around. Mohammad Irfan provided the breakthrough, getting rid of Williamson for 17 off 21 balls. NZ were 62-1. Next over, Afridi got the wicket of Colin Munro, trying to switch-hit. I thought that was the opening we needed, but I was wrong. Guptill further counter-attacked PAK and together with Corey Anderson, put on 52 runs in five overs.
Mohammad Sami, who had a good outing against India in the last game, provided the breakthrough. He bowled Guptill for a well-made 80. Next over again Afridi struck to dismiss Anderson for 21. By the end of the 16th over, they were 135 for 4. But again, NZ didn’t spare PAK and scored 45 in the final four with the loss of one wicket, that too to Sami, who again had a great match, ending with figures of 2-23. The final score was 180-5.
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Obviously, at that time, chasing 180 was huge for Pakistan. Not as it has been in these times. But the way Sharjeel Khan began the innings, it was a different feeling. Every shot he hit was enjoyable. He gave the team a hell of a start. PAK were 65 in 5.2 overs, with Sharjeel himself at 47 from 25 balls, when Adam Milne got the vital breakthrough. But given the position they were in, I had a feeling that Pakistan would win. They needed 115 in 14.4 overs.
But I was wrong. I was terribly wrong. In the next 7 overs, before Afridi arrived, PAK scored 31 runs. Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal played a test knock there. I don’t know who they were trying to impress. This is where PAK completely lost their momentum. While Afridi did what he could, U Akmal was just hanging. He was just jogging around and nothing. It became difficult once Afridi was dismissed by a spectacular catch taken by Anderson at Long off. It was already all over for us.
We lost by 22 runs. And our qualification got tougher. NZ qualified for the semi-finals. Martin Guptill was awarded man of the match for his blazing knock of 80 from 48 balls. The rest is as we all remembered; Pakistan lost to Australia, who then lost to India, who qualified for the semi-finals.
Even today, I always question what Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal (who both combined scored 54 from 58 balls with 3 boundaries, all belonging to Shehzad) were trying to do. Who were they trying to impress on a flat Mohali wicket? And the funny thing about this? Umar Akmal personally asked Imran Khan, who attended a special ceremony before the IND-PAK match, to let him bat at no.3. Imran had asked Afridi, and he let him. Even coming at one down, Akmal failed miserably.
It was a game Pakistan should have won. Just one of many “should have won” matches in history, but the knock by Ahmed and Umar was criminal, which dented Pakistan’s chances for the semi-final spot.
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