The jinx is broken

THE BACKDROP

Ever since cricket started to occupy a big chunk of my consciousness, I have always been left wanting when it comes to India-Pakistan matches in World Cups and ICC Finals. The statistics are cold and brutal. Before last Sunday, they read as follows:

So then Pakistan moved on to the next match. Team numero uno, South Africa. Pakistan’s strength, its world class bowling, started to gain traction. South Africa were made short work of in quick time.

Enter Sri Lanka. Having won their previous game (against India) in spectacular fashion, Sri Lanka was pumped for this virtual Quarter Final. They even had us on the ropes with 7 down and 75 to go. El Capitan and Lady Luck stepped up and took us over the line. Pakistan made it into the Semis.

Me: ‘Semis are decided. Pakistan v England, India v Bangladesh.’

My Indian friend: ‘So I guess it’s going to be India vs England in the Final assuming everything goes well?’

My response: ‘Well that’s the logical conclusion but with Pakistan you never know. We might KO England. We can do that to anyone on our day.’

And then followed a long debate on statistics and history and whatever.

Enter England. Tournament favorites and 2nd ranked team in the world. Clear home ground advantage. Knocked out with calculation, disdain and precision. It was as if Pakistan had acquired some Australian habits. Pakistan advanced to the finals to meet (very likely) Indians.

THE FINAL

I knew there would come a day when Pakistan would win against India in an ICC Final. What I did not foresee coming was that it would be so cold, brutal and one-sided. This was a surprise even to me!

But I did always believe that there would come a day when all the unpredictability of Pakistan would end up on the positive side and we would fire in all departments; batting, bowling, fielding; to overcome our biggest cricket rival, our own unpredictability. It only makes it sweeter to know that there was a Championship trophy on the other end of the tunnel. Pakistan crawled through that tunnel for many, many years without seeing so much as an indication of light. But then, the light came and it came in all its glory.

India were badly manhandled in the final. It was the perfect way to start off a new era in our ICC faceoff history. The era of ‘3-1’ in finals. It’s not zero anymore. Times have changed. New winds are blowing. This was the ultimate faceoff. The best batting side against the best bowling side. And we now know that great things are possible only if we keep believing.

The one-sidedness of this defeat may have come as a huge shock to the Indians. That can happen especially if one convinces oneself that nothing contrary to one’s beliefs will ever happen. Indians believed that this unchallenged dominance over Pakistan in world cricket events will always prevail. Well, not anymore.

Pakistan played the final like Australia. India played it like Pakistan. Indians even behaved like Pakistanis. Especially when Hardik Pandya was hitting the ball out of the park. That gave them hope. Similar to how we achieve hope when one of our tail-enders decides to stop caring about life and just hit every ball in vain. Hey, the match isn’t theoretically over until it’s beyond the asking rate of 36 runs an over. It was cute. However, I give full credit to Pandya for putting up a fight. It was the most entertaining part of the Indian innings and it made me sweat. So well done, Pandya! Without your heroics, our spectacular victory would have been lost amidst allegations of match-fixing and tournament rigging and what not. I’m glad that there was some fight left in the Indians. And not to forget the amazing display of sportsmanship and heart, shown by Virat Kohli after the match, who deserves a big round of applause. It takes a big man to accept defeat with a smile on his face. And we can all learn a thing or two from Mr. Kohli himself.

As for my Indian friends, well, there may be more matches in future where India dominates Pakistan in world events. It’s just a game. We both love it. There is certainly a possibility of another string of Pakistani defeats. It’s just what we do. But always remember London 2017. Because when we do, eventually, bring our game, it settles the encounter in a cold, brutal and devastating fashion. So try not to give us any more ‘MAUKAS’ in future. We just might avail them again.

Usman Afzal Minhas

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