The pain of failing to take Pakistan over the line against India in the 2007 T20 World Cup final is still evident in Misbah-ul-Haq’s voice. Pakistan’s captain at that time, Misbah took his team to the brink of victory, only to fall closer to the finish line.
Played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Septmber 24, 2007, the short side boundaries gave Misbah the confidence that they can chase down India’s 157 for 5 to win the trophy.
Gautam Gambhir (75 off 54 balls) and Rohit Sharma (30 off 16 balls) helped India put up a respectable total on the board, after Umra Gul’s 3 for 28 led Pakistan’s bowling effort.
“We were very confident because the kind of pitch there was and the kind of (short) boundaries, it was very tough for India because they were dependent on their spin bowling,” said Misbah on a Star Sports show.
“At the Wanderers, it’s very difficult for the spinners usually and their main bowler at that time was Harbhajan Singh. For an offspinner to bowl with short side boundaries there (was tough), and usually we play spin well,” he added.
WATCH VIDEOPakistan’s run-chase didn’t begin on a strong note as RP Singh struck early blows to peg them back at 26 for 2, but it was the run-out of dangerous opener Imran Nazir (33 off 14 balls) that actually put pressure back on Pakistan.
“We thought ke ye to koi mushkil runs nahi hain (not a difficult target to chase), just need a good start. But I think losing quick wickets in 2-3 overs, the run-out of Imran Nazir, that basically put pressure on us. At one point we were 77 for 6. So because of the fall of wickets, the target became difficult,” Misbah analysed.
But two little partnership of 27 and 34 runs between Misbah and Yasir Arafat & Misbah and Sohail Tanvir put Pakistan within sight of victory.
“Mujhe lagta hai overconfident ho ke hi kaam kharab hua (I think things went bad because of overconfidence),” Misbah added.
Pakistan needed 13 runs to win when India captain MS Dhoni handed over the ball to Joginder Sharma.
“I was very confident that we need 13 runs and I have to middle only two balls. The four to third-man boundary off an edge from (Mohammad) Asif’s bat gave us a feeling that maybe luck is on our side. Then I hit a six at the start of the last over,” recalled the former Pakistan captain.
But off the third ball of the over, Misbah tried a high-risk scoop shot over fine-leg, and it landed into the hands of S Sreesanth to signal India’s famous five-run win.
“It is like that, cricket is like that. When you have just one wicket left, then the bowling side is ahead in the game because you have to make just one mistake, out, and game over,” he concluded.
