In the inaugural edition of 2007 T20 World Cup, Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq could have become the hero of the match but his one wrong decision in the final match against arch-rivals, Indian team, changed the total outcome of the game. A mistimed scoop shot played by Misbah resulted in an easy catch taken by India’s S Sreesanth and subsequently MS Dhoni-led Indian team lifted the trophy as well.
While recalling the moment, Misbah confessed that he “got overconfident” and a result of it that “mistimed shot” took place.
Misbah's words
“In 2007, I always say that throughout every game, I scored so many fours playing that shot. Even with the fine leg in place, I was taking singles while playing that shot against Australia. Against spinners, I used to beat fine leg with that shot,” Misbah said during a conversation with former Pakistan teammates Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Yousuf.
“So, you can say I got overconfident. I mistimed the shot on which I had the most confidence,” Misbah added.
2011 WC
In the 2011 World Cup semi-final match, the two teams faced each other in Mohali. Batting first, the Indian team registered a total of 260 runs losing 9 wickets in 50 overs. In reply, Misbah scored 56 runs off 76 balls but his side could ultimately manage to reach a total of 231 runs and lose the match by 29 runs.
While talking about that match, Misbah felt that he “did not play three overs of powerplay at all.”
“In 2011, on that Mohali pitch, India had scored 44 (39/0) in 4 overs. When the ball got older, it started to reverse, it started gripping and runs were harder to get. Sachin scored 80-something (85) and he was man of the match. India were struggling after that start.
“Throughout the World Cup, we were scoring heavily in the batting powerplay towards the end. The thought was that even if we needed 100 runs in the final 10 overs, we had a batting powerplay of five overs. If we had wickets in hand, we could've easily chased it down. I was standing alone in the final five overs of powerplay and I got to play only 2 overs. We lost the game by 20-22 runs and I didn't play three overs of powerplay at all. There was no batsman at the other end,” the 47-year-old former Pakistan cricketer explained.
