How Winning by 59 run instead of 60 Destroyed Pakistan's Hope of becoming Back 2 Back Asian Champion

Summary

In the 2004 Asia Cup, India and Pakistan faced off in a virtual semi-final match that became a turning point for both teams. Despite India's significant loss, they managed to secure a bonus point, which later proved crucial. The match highlighted the intense rivalry and the dramatics of cricket, with Pakistan's Mohammad Sami experiencing a rollercoaster of performance and luck. Ultimately, India's strategic play and a single bonus point led to Pakistan's surprising elimination from the tournament, despite their victory over India, adding a layer of complexity to the already fierce competition.

Takeaways

• 🏏 India's cricket team faced a significant defeat against Pakistan in a virtual semi-finals match of the Asia Cup, being all out 59 runs away from the target.
• 📅 The match took place on 13th March 2004, marking India's first tour to Pakistan after a gap of 15 years, which was seen as a hopeful step towards normalizing relations between the two countries.
• 🔥 The series was highly competitive and tense, with both teams and public opinion on both sides of the border invested in the outcome.
• 🤔 Despite security concerns and a history of poor performance in Pakistan, the Indian team was determined to win, reflecting the deep-seated rivalry and desire for victory.
• 📉 Both India and Pakistan were struggling with their performance leading up to the series, with each team experiencing losses and setbacks.
• 🔝 Pakistan's resurgence was led by the emerging fast bowling duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, who were seen as the new lethal combination for the team.
• 🔄 An interesting pattern emerged where Pakistan's success seemed inversely proportional to Mohammad Sami's performance, adding a layer of complexity to the team's strategy.
• 🏹 In the Asia Cup, India adopted a strategic approach to secure a bonus point by setting a more achievable target, showcasing their adaptability and tactical acumen.
• 🎯 Mohammad Sami's performance in the final over was pivotal, with his bowling accuracy and pressure situation handling becoming the focal point of the match's climax.
• ⚖️ The unique tournament format of the Asia Cup, with its bonus point system, played a crucial role in determining the final standings and the team's progression to the finals.

Q & A

What was the significance of the cricket match between India and Pakistan on 13th March 2004?

The match on 13th March 2004 was significant because it marked India's first tour to Pakistan after a gap of 15 years, and it was seen as a potential step towards normalizing the frozen relationship between the two nations. It was also a virtual semi-finals of the Asia Cup, where Pakistan, the defending champions, could become back-to-back Asian champions by winning.

Why was the India-Pakistan cricket series in 2004 considered particularly intense?

The series was considered intense due to the historical rivalry between the two nations, the political tensions, and the fact that it was the first time India was touring Pakistan after a long gap. The series was promoted with themes of 'war on the pitch' and 'time for revenge,' which heightened the anticipation and intensity.

How did the Pakistani team's performance prior to the Asia Cup affect their morale?

Before the Asia Cup, Pakistan's performance was lackluster, including an early exit from the World Cup and losses in other series. However, their victory against New Zealand, winning a test series after a decade, seemed to have revitalized them and set the stage for a potential comeback in the Asia Cup.

What was the pattern observed during the India-Pakistan series regarding Mohammad Sami's performance and Pakistan's wins?

An interesting pattern observed during the series was that Pakistan's luck seemed to be inversely proportional to Mohammad Sami's form. When Sami performed well, Pakistan lost, and when he performed poorly, Pakistan won, which was quite peculiar given his role as a key bowler.

Why was India's victory in the Pakistan soil a significant achievement in the 2004 series?

India's victory in Pakistan was significant because it was their first-ever series sweep in Pakistan, which was a major upset given the historical dominance of Pakistan in their home conditions. This victory was a major boost to India's morale and a testament to their improving cricket team.

What was the unique tournament format of the Asia Cup that affected the match outcomes?

The Asia Cup had a unique format where six teams were divided into two groups, with four teams qualifying for the Super 4s. A bonus point system was in place, which awarded an additional point to the team scoring more than a predetermined bonus point margin, making the competition more complex and strategic.

How did Shoaib Malik's performance in the Asia Cup match against India impact the game?

Shoaib Malik's performance was pivotal as he scored 143 runs, which was a monumental achievement on a ground where the highest score was 191. His innings took Pakistan to a score of 300, setting a challenging target for India and ultimately leading to Pakistan's victory.

What was the strategy adopted by the Indian team when they were chasing the target in the Asia Cup match against Pakistan?

The Indian team, realizing the impossibility of winning, adopted a strategy to secure the bonus point by reaching a revised target of 241. They played cautiously, focusing on not losing wickets and ensuring they reached the bonus point target, which was part of a larger strategy to qualify for the finals.

Why did the Indian team's strategy in the Asia Cup match against Pakistan involve giving up on the main target?

The Indian team's strategy involved giving up on the main target to secure the bonus point, as they calculated that even if they lost the match, getting the bonus point would keep them ahead of Pakistan in the tournament table, given the complexities of the bonus point system and the remaining matches for both teams.

How did Mohammad Sami's performance in the final over of the Asia Cup match against India affect the outcome?

Mohammad Sami's performance in the final over was crucial. Despite bowling well and getting two leg byes and a stumping opportunity, the umpire missed a crucial decision, and a dropped catch led to India securing the bonus point. This one bonus point ultimately made the difference, leading to Pakistan's elimination from the tournament despite having a higher net run rate.

Outlines

00:00

🏏 The Turning Point: India vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup

This paragraph sets the stage for a pivotal cricket match between India and Pakistan during the Asia Cup in 2004. It highlights the historical context of the rivalry and the significance of the match, which was not just a sports event but also a symbol of the political tensions between the two nations. The narrative focuses on the unusual situation where India's loss to Pakistan was celebrated, marking a significant moment in the cricketing history of both countries. The paragraph also touches upon the broader implications of the series on the relationship between India and Pakistan, suggesting that the matches were seen as more than just games but as a form of diplomatic engagement.

05:01

🔥 The Strategy and Drama of the Deciding Match

The second paragraph delves into the tactical aspects of the series-deciding match, where India, led by the aggressive batting of Virender Sehwag, aimed to secure a victory against Pakistan. It discusses the role of Mohammad Sami, a key player for Pakistan, whose performance seemed to inversely affect his team's success. The paragraph also outlines the strategic decisions made by the Indian team, particularly focusing on the need to secure a bonus point to advance in the tournament. The narrative captures the tension and drama of the match, highlighting the high stakes and the intense competition between the two teams.

10:02

🏉 The Final Over: A Test of Nerves and Skill

The final paragraph recounts the climax of the series with a focus on the last over of the match. It describes the pressure and the high-stakes situation where every run and every wicket counted. The narrative follows the Indian team's struggle to reach the target, with the Pakistani bowlers, particularly Mohammad Sami, displaying exceptional skill and accuracy. The paragraph culminates in the tense final moments of the match, where a series of close calls and missed opportunities lead to a surprising and dramatic conclusion. The summary captures the emotions and the significance of the match's outcome, which not only determined the tournament's finalists but also had a profound impact on the teams and their fans.

Keywords

💡Asia Cup

The Asia Cup is a premier cricket competition among the national teams of Asian countries. In the context of the video, it is a significant event where Pakistan and India face off in a high-stakes match. The script mentions the Asia Cup as the setting for the intense rivalry and competition between the two teams, highlighting the importance of the tournament in the cricketing calendar of Asian nations.

💡Defending Champions

In sports, the defending champions are the team or individual that holds the title from the previous competition and is competing to retain it. The script refers to Pakistan as the defending champions of the Asia Cup, emphasizing their position and the pressure they face to maintain their title against strong competitors like India.

💡Cricket Diplomacy

Cricket diplomacy refers to the use of sports, particularly cricket, to foster goodwill and improve relations between nations. The video script mentions the series between India and Pakistan as seen by some as a hope for normalizing relations between the two neighbors. It illustrates the broader role of sports in international diplomacy and the high expectations placed on the series beyond the cricket field.

💡ODI (One Day International)

ODI, or One Day International, is a form of limited-overs cricket, played between two teams with each side facing a fixed number of overs. The script discusses the performance of the Indian and Pakistani teams in ODIs, highlighting the historical context and the significance of their wins and losses in this format, which is a crucial part of the narrative leading up to the Asia Cup match.

💡Test Match

A Test match is a long and challenging form of cricket played over several days between two teams, with each team having two innings. The script refers to India's struggle to win a Test match in Pakistan, indicating the historical performance and the psychological aspect of the teams' encounters. It underscores the difficulty and prestige associated with Test matches in the cricketing world.

💡Bowling

In cricket, bowling is the act of propelling the ball towards the batsman with the objective of dismissing him or limiting his scoring opportunities. The video script discusses the Pakistani bowling attack, particularly the pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, and their impact on the game. It highlights the strategic importance of bowling in cricket and its role in determining the outcome of matches.

💡Batting

Batting in cricket is the act of striking the ball with a bat to score runs. The script contrasts the Pakistani bowling with the Indian batting, setting the stage for the battle between the two teams. It emphasizes the importance of batting as a key aspect of the game, where the team's success often hinges on the performance of its batsmen.

💡NRR (Net Run Rate)

Net Run Rate (NRR) is a statistic used in cricket to determine the relative performance of teams in a tournament. The script explains the critical role of NRR in the Asia Cup, where it becomes a deciding factor in team standings. It illustrates the complexity of tournament formats and how NRR can influence the outcome of a competition beyond just the number of wins or losses.

💡Bonus Point System

The bonus point system in cricket is a rule that awards additional points to teams for achieving specific targets during a match, such as scoring a certain number of runs or taking wickets. The video script describes how this system was used in the Asia Cup and how it complicated the tournament dynamics, adding an extra layer of strategy and tension to the matches.

💡Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik is a Pakistani cricketer mentioned in the script for his unexpected and aggressive performance against India in the Asia Cup. His innings is highlighted as a turning point in the match, showcasing the impact a single player can have on the game. It serves as an example of individual brilliance in team sports and how it can shift the momentum of a match.

💡Chasing

In cricket, chasing refers to the act of a team trying to score the required number of runs set by the opposing team within a stipulated number of overs. The script narrates the tense moments when India is 'chasing' a target set by Pakistan, emphasizing the high-pressure situation and the strategic decisions involved in such scenarios.

Highlights

India's unexpected loss to Pakistan in a crucial Asia Cup match led to a unique celebration.

The match was a virtual semi-final, with Pakistan as the defending champions aiming for back-to-back titles.

The series was seen as a potential diplomatic thaw in the strained relationship between India and Pakistan.

Indian players were warned of security concerns that might cancel the tour, but were determined to play.

Pakistan's cricket team was in a slump, having been eliminated early from the World Cup and losing key series.

The emergence of the Pakistani bowling duo Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami was a significant development.

An unusual pattern emerged where Pakistan's success seemed inversely proportional to Mohammad Sami's performance.

India's first-ever test victory in Pakistan and a series sweep marked a historic moment.

The Asia Cup introduced a unique tournament format with a bonus point system that complicated team strategies.

Shoaib Malik's aggressive innings of 143 runs against India in the Asia Cup was a game-changer.

India's strategy to放弃追求主要目标以确保获得额外积分，显示了他们的战术灵活性。

Sami's performance in the final over, with two leg bys and missed stumping opportunities, was pivotal.

India's nail-biting win by one run, securing the bonus point, had significant implications for the tournament standings.

Pakistan's defeat despite a higher net run rate and victory over India was a dramatic turn of events.

The match's outcome highlighted the importance of the bonus point system in determining tournament progression.

Transcripts

There was a time

when India actually lost a match to

Pakistan

and the whole of India celebrated

and it wasn’t even a small loss

we had nearly been all out

a full 59 runs away from the target

in a virtual semi finals of the

Asia cup

An Asia cup

where Pakistan were

the defending champions

And by winning this

They could become

back to back

Asian champion

So today

We are gonna hear the story

of what exactly happened

of how Pakistan

in spite of defending

India in virtual semi finals

saw themselves get booted out

from a place in the finals

13th March 2004 was the date

where India

after a gap of 15 years

Was going to tour Pakistan

in some people’s eyes

This series was seen as hope

Hope

that this cricketing diplomacy

Could help normalizing

the frozen relationship

Between this 2 neighbours

but

a single look

at the promotions

surrounding this series

Would have made it very clear

There wasn't going to be anything

friendly

About this series

war on the pitch

time for revenge

to even that peculiar Pepsi Ad

& it wasn’t just the public mind you

In the run up to the series

When the Indian players were told

That security concerns

might get this tour cancelled

Nearly half the members of the team

spoke in opposition

Staunchly stating

that they did not want

to miss the opportunity

Of beating Pakistan

In Pakistan

Now those

were big words

especially given the fact

That we had not even won

A single test match

in Pakistan by this point

And ODIs weren’t much better

In 20 years of playing history

we had won just 3

And that’s not even going into

the weird slump

the team seem to be in

losing three finals in a row

along with getting defeated

three times at home

now if there was to be some

silver lining to all of this

it was that Pakistan

seemed to be doing

as bad as India

first,

they get thrown out of the world cup

in group stages itself

followed by losing the finals of

the BA cup

and

losing a series to South Africa

at Home

now thankfully

This humiliation

seemed to have jolted them awake

As they would respond to this

By defeating New Zealand

in New Zealand

Winning a test series there

after a full decade

And the main architects

Behind their resurgence

their newly made Main Pacers duo

Shoaib Akhtar

and Mohammad Sami

Ever since the old lineup

Wasim and Waqar

had been sidelined

The Pakistani team

had been looking for a new lethal combo

And this

29 and 21 year old pair

together

had the necessary pace

To put fear into

any opponents they wanted

and though this series

would be the first time

they were to be the main attack

on such a large stage

in the media eyes

this series

was to be a battle

between the Pakistani bowling

And the Indian batting

but then

The moment this series actually started

There was a very interesting pattern

That seemed to be developing

For some reason

Pakistan’s luck

Seemed to be in inverse proportion

To Mohammad Sami’s form

if Sami does well

Pakistan loses

and if Sami does badly

for some reason

Pakistan keep on winning

let me show you with an example

In a first ODI

While having a mediocre outing

Sami Strikes twice in the 48th over

to keep the final tally

within Pakistan’s reach

But then

In spite of having 4 wickets in hand

And needing 24 in 18 balls

Pakistan go on to lose the match

The second ODI

is a bit of an outlier

Sami performs well

Pakistan wins

But the third

On a pure bowling pitch

Sami

performs

abysmally

Their worst bowler by a mile

and Pakistan wins the match

And then

in the last 2 matches of the series

Sami seemingly

angry with his last matches performance

Goes on to put a bowling

exhibition

Holding a beautiful line

Taking out well set batsmen

time and again

And Pakistan loses

both of the matches

Sami even after becoming

the highest wicket taker of this ODI series

Sees his team

lose a series to India

For the very first time at home

Now if you are think

I’m making a mountain out of a molehill

that all of this can be just a coincidence

then let me take you through

the test series once

were a dangerous looking Sehwag

is demolishing

the entire Pakistani attack

the only bowler giving him trouble

is Saqlain Mushtaq

and then while playing on 68

Sehwag tries to hit him to dig mid wicket

were Sami has been put

for that exact shot

and he drops it

Sehwag goes on to score India's first

triple century

and Pakistan go on to lose that match

by an inning

now put in contrast

the second test was this one

were in spite of bowling on a perfect pacer's pitch

Sami and Shoaib Akhtar

can't seem to hold a line

and Umar Gul comes in

and tears to the Indian line up

and so

we come to the final match

The series deciding match

Where Pakistan

After being reduced

to 137 for 8

have Sami

coming forward as a batsman

Creating a 70 run partnership

That sees him nearly complete his

half century

and then he follows that up

by coming out and bowling

3 extremely hostile spells

and the reward he gets for this

an absolutely plumb LBW of Dravid

Not being giving

Followed by having a simple catch to Yasir Hamid

dropped

Resulting in dravid

Going on to score a masterful 270

Taking India to mammoth 600

A total

that hands India the match

by an inning and 131 runs

Not only had India won

their first victory in Pakistani soil

But they had done so

by completing a series sweep

so you can imagine

The amount of abuse

this Pakistani team

was gonna get

and what would make things even worse

was that this

was to be the last series

of this season

meaning

that Pakistani public

now had months and months

to marinate in their anger and resentment

anger

that was quickly directed

to the Pakistani team

and their two main bowlers

so by the time the break was about to end

And the asia cup was about to start

The whole of the Pakistani team

Had become desperate

Desperate

to get some revenge for their country

Afterall

What better way

to show their mettle to their nation

then to become back to back

Asian champions

but it was here

that they were gonna run into

a bit of problem

cause this tournament

put in place

a unique tournament formats

6 teams in 2 groups

4 teams qualify in the super 4s

where a bonus point system

would make things complicated

now suppose

Team A scores 300 runs in the first inning

Then based on the total

A bonus point margin is to be given

For this example

Let's say that the margin is 250

now

if Team B

is all out

before reaching 250

them Team A

get's the 5 winning points

plus one bonus point

but if

Team B

Manages to cross that 250 mark

Then even if they lose the match

They will get one point

meaning irrespective of who wins

There will always be 6 points at play

5 for the winning team

And 1 based on the bonus point margin

Now when this rule was made

nobody was expecting it to be a big deal

Afterall With Sri Lanka's form

coming into this tournament

and it being played at their home

they were the outright favourites

they were supposed to defeat

each and every team in the super fours

and credit is where credit is due

things went according to plan

Sri Lanka first defeating

Bangladesh and Pakistan

with India defeating Bangladesh

but then

as soon as the India Pakistan match started

A virtual semi finals

things took an unexpected turn

Shoaib Malik

Someone

who had this point of time

just averaged 27

now

would Suddenly decided

to emulate Sehwag

a near blind

onslaught on Indian bowlers were started

not giving a care

whether he got out or not

edges after edges were given

regulation stumping missed

an through all of these lifelines

he somehow managed to last

Nearly the entire 50 overs

on a ground

where in that tournament

the highest score posted was 191

Shoaib Malik

had single handedly scored 143 runs

taking Pakistan to a monumental

300 runs

now if this wasn't bad enough

Sami's first over was

to go for 10 runs

Meaning he was gonna have a bad day

Meaning....

Sehwag got out in the second over

Ganguly tried to stabilize the inning

but even he departed

Followed by Dravid on 94

By the time

yuvraj and kaif

made their way backback to the pavilion

India

still had half the runs to go

with Sachin and Irfan Pathan

being the only batsmen left

so frankly speaking

The writing was on the wall

There was

no saving this match

And so

Ganguly and the coach John Wright

Came up with a plan

If we try to go after the main target

the moment Sachin gets out

we lose

any chance getting to the bonus point

and if don't get the bonus point

then Pakistan will have

the same amount of points

India has

by the end of this match

but whereas Pakistan's next match

is against Bangladesh

we

were to play

the unbeaten Sri Lanka

who had somehow

not even considered

a single bonus point

and in case

just in case

we're able to defeat them

and get a bonus point

then both Sri Lanka and Pakistan

already

have a much higher NRR than us

so in spite of

everybody being on the same points

we

would be the most likely one

to get knocked out

so

the highest chances

of actually making up to the finals

were to give up on this match

give up on this match

and just make sure

that you get the bonus point

and then just try your level best

to defeat Sri Lanka the next match

that way

even if you don't get the bonus point there

Pakistan cannot touch us anymore

and this strategy

quickly found support across the board

the new target

was 241

241

that's 90 runs

in 21 overs

and so we had

all of a sudden

test match being played

In the middle of an ODI

Over after over

Dot after dot

especially doing this was Irfan pathan

who had that point of time

had gone above 30 just once

in his entire career

It looked as if

He had fevicoled himself to the crease

Simply refusing to move from there

Now Pakistan

would quickly on to this tactic

but initially

they would just allow it to happen

because afterall Sachin was there

and they had to make sure

that India had no chance

of actually winning

but there after

once they were sure

they too

switched the tactic

they are not trying to score

so forget about the runs

just start targeting the stumps

force them to play

get them out

on the other hand

we also had Sachin

who had to make sure

that their required run rate

for the bonus margin

does not go out of hand

and these two situations

came together

to take Sachin's wicket

in the 42nd over

with India requiring just 27 runs

from 42 balls

something

should have been a breeze

by any stretch of the imagination

however

Indian cricketing history

is rife with examples after examples

of chases

in tournaments much more important than this

had been quickly squandered

the moment Sachin got out

and here

Sachin getting out

made the Pakistani bowlers

who in spite of winning the match

were looking as if

the wind has been knocked out of them

suddenly

seeming to get a new life

beginning to act the tail enders

with a new found vengeance

and all of a sudden

even the bonus match in target

started looking difficult

the Pakistani Pacers

were bowling with such accuracy

such lethality

that even getting a single run in an over

seemed to be

an extremely difficult prospect

the gap between the balls and runs was

quickly depleting

Bhajji fell quickly

so that Kumble come close

Irfan Pathan would

try his level best

to protect the bowler on the other end

but even his brave defence

would come to an end

when in the 49th over

with India needing 8 runs out of 8 balls

he fell

Balaji would take a risky double

on the last ball of the over

bringing the total down to six for six

and the much more experienced Kumble

to take the strike on the last over

and bowling to him

with the aim

of shutting down

all Indian hopes

taking revenge

for everything that he had been through

you had

Mohammad Sami

And I know what you are asking

How exactly

was Sami bowling

till this point in this match ?

Well, Let's get the answer

From the last over itself

The first ball

A Dot

the second ball

a dot again

The third

A desperate Kumble with a wild swing

that somehow connects

for a four

two required

from 3 balls

Now normally

You would expect the baller

to get frustrated

especially Sami

who had been through so much

but frankly speaking

he must have gotten used to it

by this point

Luck was never on his side

When india was standing against him

So he just seem to shrugged it off

and once again

bowled a perfect ball

two required

in 2

and then

came the ball

that was gonna change the entire

complexation of this match

a near perfect ball once again

hits the pads

The batsman go for a desperate leg by run

ball is already in Moin Khan's hand

and he misses

one run

in one ball

what happens next

frankly

after saying so much

for so long

I’m just gonna let the tape run

and let you feel

what sami must have felt

in that moment

two perfect balls

two leg bys

2 perfect stumping opportunities

and India

Reaches the target

By losing by 59 runs instead of 60

They had gotten the bonus point

And as you can imagine

That one bonus point

in the end

made all the difference

Sri Lanka for the first time

in this entire tournament

lost to India

wherein the final table

looked something like

this

Pakistan

In spite of having

a much higher NRR than India

in spite of defeating India

had lost on on the finals

The months long humiliation of Pakistan

had finally

been completed