Pakistan fast-bowler Hassan Ali recently recalled the national team’s most memorable victory over the arch-rivals India in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final to lift their maiden title at a jam-packed Kennington Oval crowd on June 18th, 2017.
The right-arm seamer played an integral role in Pakistan’s memorable 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 scalps including the match-winning figures of 3/19 as Pakistan steamrolled India by 180 runs while defending 339 in the summit clash.
Ali, who was named as player of the tournament, said remembering that glorious day when his 8th ranked Pakistan defeated the arch-rivals India still gives him goosebumps.
Hassan said in an interview on Cricket Baaz: “Remembering the Champions Trophy win still gives me goosebumps. You cannot describe the feelings of that tournament in words. There were a lot of players who made their debuts – Rumman Raees, Faheem Ashraf, and Fakhar Zaman, and there were a few players whose careers had just started – like me and Shadab Khan. So, it was a young team, and a new captain was handling it: Sarfraz Bhai.”
The pacer further added, “Imagine, An eighth-ranked team went to a mega event and defeats the teams ranked in the top three and then beats India in the final. So, it was just by the grace of God and the way Sarfraz Bhai captained the side and every single player performed, I cannot tell it in words.”
Ali signed off by saying, “No doubt India was stronger on paper, and their performance was also going good, but when a team has the momentum, they can defeat any team in front of them. So everyone had the hunger to perform.”
(With Hindustan Times Inputs)
