The first step to being World Champions

It was on May 4, 1990 that Pakistan cricket took their giant step towards becoming the World Champions. The World Cup was still 20 months away, but Wasim Akram came of age with his all round performance and literally dethroned the then-current world champs.

Over a quarter of a century ago Pakistan was riding on the waves of success. They had just won the Nehru Cup, a tournament held to celebrate the centenary of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's birthday.

Being tipped as a ‘mini’ world cup, Pakistan lost its opening match against England and came back to defeat India (home team), Australia (World Champions), England in semis and West Indies in the final.

Pakistan went to Australia, and although the Test series was lost 0-1, the men led by Imran Khan were defeated but not disgraced. Pakistanis were fast becoming world-beaters and the moment of triumph came in Sharjah in the final of the second Austral-Asia Cup when they trounced the world champs.

Wasim who smashed King Richards for a six on the penultimate delivery to seal victory in the final of the Nehru Cup at Calcutta in November 1989, was fast becoming a legend and what he did in the next final played exactly 25 years ago, has become part of Cricket folklore.

Pakistan took on Australia in the final of the second Austral-Asia Cup, while arch-rivals India failed to reach the semis after being beaten in both group matches.

On a hot Friday in Sharjah, Pakistan Captain Imran Khan won the toss and elected to bat. Saeed Anwar opened the innings with wicket-keeper Saleem Yousuf, who was enjoying his new position as an opener. Saeed enthralled the crowd with his lovely strokes across the ground, while Yousuf was caught behind for 5 when the score was 40. When Saeed was out after scoring 40, Pakistan had 52 runs on the board.

Javed Miandad and Saleem Malik steadied the innings but in the 20th over, Miandad was caught behind off Steve Waugh, leaving Pakistan on 80/3. Ijaz Ahmed joined Malik and together they plundered the Aussies. Malik brought up his 50 by hitting ‘Merv’ Hughes for four fours in one over.

Hughes and Simon O’Donnell were at the receiving end mostly, and went for over 50 runs without a wicket. The only relief for the Aussies was Ian Healy’s four catches behind the stumps, which included that of Imran Khan and Miandad.

The day belonged to Wasim who with his thrilling performance changed the course of the match. Wasim joined Malik at the fall of the 6th wicket when the scoreboard showed 179.

200 runs of the innings were brought up in the 43rd over. After putting together 28 quick runs, Malik was dismissed for 87. His innings included nine fours and a six off just 104 deliveries. Wasim cut loose at this moment and with leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, put on an undefeated 59 runs in six overs. Mushtaq remained not out on 17 while Wasim was unbeaten at 49 off 36 deliveries.

Wasim hit two sixes in the last over by O’Donnell, who scored the then fastest 50 in ODI cricket off 18 deliveries against Sri Lanka just two days earlier. Wasim missed his half century as he took a single on the penultimate delivery, only to watch young Mushtaq play it, from the non-striker’s end.

In reply to Pakistan’s score of 266, Australia started off comfortably and David Boon along with Mark Taylor added 50 runs in 15 overs. It required something brilliant to dismiss any one of them and Ijaz Ahmed’s throw to the wicket keeper from the deep did the trick.

Waqar Younis then removed Dean Jones for a duck and Captain Allan Border for one in quick succession to put Australia at 64/3. Mark Taylor fell after scoring 52, and Aussies were half way through to Pakistan’s score. At 133/4, O’Donnell joined Steve Waugh and they added 54 runs for the 5th wicket.

With over eight runs an over to get, Imran Khan brought back Mushtaq who took both wickets with his leg-spin for his skipper. O’Donnell was dismissed for 33 off 28 deliveries with four fours, becoming Mushtaq’s third victim. With his dismissal at 187, the required run rate climbed and back to back dismissals of Steve Waugh at 64, and Peter Taylor slowed Australia’s reply.

With a strike rate of over 80 and an average of over 20, Healy was the last remaining threat. 37 runs were required off 24 deliveries, and one good over could have given them the title.

There was one good over, but from Pakistan.

Wasim clean bowled ‘Merv’ Hughes and Carl Rackemann to set up his second hat-trick in ODIs.

“Alderman is slightly better than BS Chandrasekhar with the bat,” was what Sunil Gavaskar said, when Terry Alderman came out to face the hat-trick ball. In 65 ODIs, he batted on 18 occasions, scored 32 runs and had a personal best of nine not out.

The nation, which was listening to radio when Wasim recorded his first hat-trick against the West Indies in October the previous year at this very ground, were geared up to see his first hat-trick on television.

The score failed to go beyond 230 as Alderman was bowled by Akram.

Pakistan won the final by 36 runs.

Commentator Iftikhar Ahmed, the first man to witness Miandad’s six in the previous final of the same tournament was present in the commentary box again to relay the victory message to the nation.

Wasim was named Man of the Match while Waqar was named Man of the Series for his 17 wickets in this tournament. This included two five-for and one four wicket hauls. It’s a pity he got injured and missed the World Cup, which was played 20 months after this match that is still remembered for the contribution by Wasim.

The Sharjah win served as a launch pad for all rounder Wasim, who later became the player of the finals in that World Cup played in Australia.