They proved us all wrong. Every single one of us. There wasn’t a person out there who could have logically predicted the Champions Trophy win for a side that 12 months ago was struggling to qualify for the tournament in the first place. For there is no logical explanation.
But every time Pakistan defy reason, it turns out to be a spectacle of human achievement. And its joy isn’t only shared by the Pakistani fans.
The importance of the Champions Trophy win cannot be stressed enough. It is the second highest profile ODI tournament in after the World Cup, but in many ways it’s harder to win than the World Cup itself.
Azhar Ali
The tournament that started off as a knockout competition in 1998, does not allow you to lose two games in the event. It only features the top eight sides in the world – none of the minnows.
After losing the one allotted game you’re allowed in the opening contest, the tournament had indeed become a knockout competition for Pakistan. But it wasn’t made such a big deal; for after the Indian game it had become a matter of when – and not if – Pakistan would be knocked out.
Sarfraz Ahmed
Well it was never, as Pakistan romped through the tournament with four consecutive wins against four top sides – including three of the tournament favourites – to win their first ever ICC Champions Trophy.
Normally the World Cup winners are the world champions, but the team that wins a tournament of champions is no less worthy of the tag.
The win has made Pakistan only the fourth international side to win all three limited overs world ICC events: the ODI World Cup, World T20 and the Champions Trophy. They’re only the second side to win that particular treble along with the ICC Test mace which the team won last year.
Hassan Ali
But none those achievements truly signify what the Champions Trophy means for not just this team but for Pakistan cricket as a whole.
For at least a couple of years we’ve all – understandably – been lambasting the ODI team for playing a brand of cricket that is decades behind the rest. The negativity in both the batting and fielding, had also caught up with the bowling, which has since time immemorial been Pakistan’s trump card.
The Champions Trophy has pushed Pakistan back on the map of ODI cricket and has given us gems like Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Ali
Since the drubbing against India, slowly all facets of the game have started paying positive dividends.
Starting with the bowling, which brought us back in the tournament – to the batting that in the last couple of games has looked every bit a 2017 brand – to the fielding which has looked nothing like the clumsy unit from the opener, and has evolved into being as good as any out there.
Fakhar Zaman
A lot of the credit for these achievements goes to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) that in merely two seasons has produced players with the ability to pull off what they’ve done this month. The T20 franchise tournament, put together with a lot of hard work from the organisers, gave the players the skills needed in the modern game – what remained was the belief.
Pakistan were oozing with belief in the two knockout games, bulldozing two of the pretournament favourites. It is this kind of faith in oneself that Pakistan had been missing in the ODIs for ages. The Champions Trophy has restored that.
Mohammad Amir
With the 2019 World Cup ahead, there of course is a lot of work that needs to be done. Pakistan are at their deadliest when no one gives them a chance – that’s where the perpetual ‘unpredictable’ tag comes from. It remains to be seen how they cope with this new found belief, with expectations.
But right here, right now, what matters is that we have won the Champions Trophy. The tournament has pushed Pakistan back on the map of ODI cricket and has given us gems like Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan – who should be aces for Pakistan for years to come.
It has also reaffirmed Sarfraz Ahmed as the captain who would take this team forward. Because that’s the only direction Pakistan are heading. Onwards and upwards.
