It’s time to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the historic Champions Trophy win. And while we do so, let’s relive the greatest moments from the memorable day…
18th June 2017: a day no Pakistani can ever forget. The day of the 2017 Champions Trophy final. The day when Pakistan crushed arch-rivals India to lift the trophy for the first time ever. Pakistan entered the tournament as the lowest ranked team, beat the defending champions and the tournament’s favourites by a massive 180 runs – the largest margin of victory in an ICC ODI tournament final. As we near the first-year anniversary of this historic win, let’s have a look at the top 5 moments from the terrific day.
#OnThisDay a year ago, Pakistan's perfect finish to a remarkable Champions Trophy campaign https://t.co/QrGq063WlZ pic.twitter.com/D3w2NpYKpT
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 18, 2018
1. The no-ball that saved Fakhar Zaman
Who can forget Jasprit Bumrah’s no-ball in the third over? Pakistan had just scored eight runs in three overs when Bumrah got an outside edge off Fakhar. The Pakistan fans almost saw their dream of winning an all important match against India crushed when the umpire stopped Fakhar and asked him to wait. The ball was being checked for a no-ball! Much to the joy of Pakistan fans and disappointment of India fans, Bumrah had overstepped the line by an inch. Hence, the no-ball breathed new life into the opener, who then went on to score his maiden ton. What an occasion to score your maiden century. All hail Fakhar Zaman! Thanks to Fakhar’s blistering knock following the no-ball, it is now recalled as one of the most expensive no-balls in cricket history.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/champions-trophy/video/420862
2. Kohli dropped on one ball, caught on the next
Remember when Azhar Ali dropped the Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Amir’s ball and almost dropped the trophy? But the winds seemed to be in favour of Pakistan because he was caught on the very next ball by Shadab Khan. Nothing can describe the moment better than the commentator’s words at that moment “Pakistan cricket at its best. One minute down, next minute up!” Even a year later these words ring loud and clear in our ears – and why wouldn’t they?
https://www.icc-cricket.com/champions-trophy/video/420985
3. Shadab’s incredible review
The review that made us all fall in love with the young spinner and his confidence. It was the 13th over of the Indian innings when the 18-year-old Shadab convinced his captain to take a review when the umpire did not give an out on what he believed was a clear lbw. Shadab’s furious “Pad hai. Pad hai. Pehle pad hai” was lip-read by everybody watching it on screen. The review turned out to be a successful one and India lost another all-important wicket while Shadab won our hearts.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/champions-trophy/video/420935
4. Hardik Pandya’s run out
The moment when India’s hopes of winning the final breathed their last. Hardik Pandya was playing a remarkable innings and had hit 76 off just 43 balls when some misunderstanding between him and Ravindra Jadeja resulted in him getting run out by Hassan Ali. As much as we hate to admit it, he did give us a bit of a scare with his innings. Thank God for the misunderstanding as he departed before he could do much damage.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/champions-trophy/video/420948
5. The winning moment – last wicket
Last but not least, the winning moment. When Sarfaraz Ahmed caught Bumrah off Hassan Ali’s ball and India’s innings came to an end at just 158 runs. Every Pakistani fan in the stadium and behind the television screens literally screamed with the team as they hugged and celebrated this memorable win. History had been made. The team that had entered the tournament as the lowest ranked team and lost their first match of the tournament against the same team had stunned the world with their comeback. And what better way to make a comeback than by beating their arch-rivals in a much-hyped final. It is safe to say: if Pakistanis have ever loved their team for being so unpredictable, it was then.