After over 14-years of the inaugural T20 World Cup final, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has opened up about his dismissal that handed India the trophy.
No one on either side of the border and around the globe can forget the riveting encounter in the 2007 T20 World Cup final. The India-Pakistan rivalry was one of the fiercest rivalries in cricket. Add to it the stakes of a world cup final, and you would get a belter of a match.
The final was nothing less than that. Having posted 157 runs in the first inning, India looked in trouble as Misbah-ul-Haq anchored Pakistan’s inning towards a victory.
Although the Indian pacers did manage to apply breaks at regular intervals, Misbah looked untouchable in that inning. That was until he played that infamous scoop which landed a catch in Sreesanth’s lap and the world cup in India’s.
Misbah-ul-Haq in conversation
Talking about the same after all these years, Misbah is not at all proud of himself. In a conversation with his former teammates Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Yousuf, Malik said, “In 2007, I always say that throughout every game, I scored so many fours playing that shot (scoop). So, you can say that I got overconfident. I mistimed the shot on which I had lost confidence.”
Misbah played this shot in the most crucial time of the inning. Pakistan was within inches of winning the title when Pakistan required 11 off 6, and Misbah hit a six. Everyone thought that the game was over for India.
With 5 required from 4, there was no way Misbah could have bottled it. He looked set and was playing sensible shots. Pakistan was just one shot away from glory.
Misbah himself thought the same and tried to achieve the glory by a six, but it was not to be. This time, the scoop shot failed Misbah, and he skied the ball. With no distance on it, Sreesanth pouched the ball comfortably in the fine leg boundary.
One moment of overconfidence cost Pakistan the World Cup. However, it takes nothing away from the young Indian side, who played their heart out to put Misbah in a position to try to win the game with one shot.
Just for remembrance, Pakistan was nine wickets down in the final over. RP Singh and Irfan Pathan put up an excellent bowling display to bag three wickets each. It was a complete team effort that saw India lifting the World Cup.
