A lot has changed since that final which happened in April 1986. India and Pakistan have gone through numerous upheavals, their leaders have been assassinated, an army coup in Pakistan has happened and relations have shuttled between extremes of tepid and unreceptive. Pakistan as a nation, at best can be called struggling, whereas India has managed to march ahead, albeit sluggishly.
As it happens today, world standing of the nations largely determines how they manage to perform on the sports field. Most liberal democracies do well. Back in eighties though, things were different. Capitalism was still to blossom with all its positive features. Communists and dictatorial regimes still dominated the Olympics despite their wretched policies.
Coming to the final, Pakistan had a better pace attack, but the odds were in favor of India, who had a better win-loss record against Pakistan until then.
India batted well until the 40th over but Pakistan’s fast bowlers allowed only 40 runs in the last ten. India was left with a gettable total of 245, but still a very good total as per standards in those days. Indian fans were assured of the victory.
After 26th over Pakistan were 80 something for a couple of wickets. All Indians fans felt even better. Chases in those days were difficult, more so when required run rates reached 5 and above. Seems so unbelievable these days. If I were to give a comparison, 5 runs per over of eighties is more like 7 to 8 runs per over of today. So, when Pakistan needed 55 or so in the last five with wickets falling, we were still assured of victory. The only problem was, especially to learned viewers, that Miandad was still batting. I was aware of this risk too, but 55 runs in five overs were scored once in a lifetime, not in every other game. India was further into the driver’s seat when Imran Khan got out cheaply. Till then I had not seen what he was capable of with bat in hand. I realize now that it was good for Pakistan that he got out and the game continued to progress as per Miandad’s wishes. If it was left to maneuvering by Imran, their styles would have clashed thus India would have benefitted. Imran would seek method in chase whereas Miandad would just let it meander, weaken, and then prey on the nerves of Indian players.
Finally, the game reached the final over. Now this is purely from my memory: Wasim Akram got run out on the first ball, going for the second run. 10 needed off five. Miandad clatters a four. 6 off four. A single, Miandad off strike. 5 off three. Zulkarnain, the Pakistan wicketkeeper, bowled. Last man Tauseef Ahmed in. 5 off two. Tauseef on strike; India more or less secured. Chetan Sharma runs in, Tauseef hits the ball, Miandad takes off towards the striker’s end, Tauseef is still there, India’s best fielder Azharuddin misfields, throws to wicketkeeper, Tauseef runs to the non-striker end and is somehow safe. All of us feel as if we have inhaled truckload of carbon dioxide. Hands were above heads, raised in exasperation, slapping the forehead or thighs, anywhere, to show frustration. Not only India lost a golden chance to end the match but also Miandad handed an opportunity to hit a boundary off the last ball. He did.
Why did Kapil Dev miss his calculation and let Chetan Sharma bowl the last over? To me, this question has never meant anything. Miandad could have done this to Malcolm Marshall too if he was in the same situation. Indians may agree or not, he was a champion. Period.
This final over is available on YouTube now. In Pakistan, people would watch this video in times of depression, in their search of past glory or just for fun. This is my belief that this video would be watched more than Wasim Akram’s two magical deliveries in the 1992 world cup final. What more can I say?
Next day was fortunately a school holiday. I woke up facing Chetan Sharma’s poster directly pasted over my headrest. All posters available in those days were pasted on walls irrespective of nationality or stature of the player. Even Javed Miandad’s poster also adorned our bedroom’s walls for a while.
Coming back to the six Miandad hit, taking full advantage of the chest high full toss Chetan Sharma offered, I could say Sharma’s intentions were good. A yorker-length delivery he intended to bowl, which would have prevented a boundary. Today I realize how Miandad brought the match to a contest of nerves between himself and the bowler. One chance to either of them. MS Dhoni used this tactic to perfection to become a hero many times, though he failed too on several occasions.
The defeat sent India several miles behind Pakistan. If my memory goes right, India’s next victory against Pakistan in an ODI came only in 1991 when Sachin Tendulkar’s aggressive half century turned the match for India in Sharjah. Although in between the two teams did tie a game which was awarded to India by virtue of losing fewer wickets. So much for the impact of one blow.
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