Fakhar, Amir recall iconic CT win

The Desert Vipers’ latest season of Straight Up with Vipers kicked off with an engaging episode featuring Pakistani cricket stars Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir. The duo reflected on their unforgettable performances in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, particularly the final against India, which secured Pakistan’s historic win.

Fakhar Zaman, who played a crucial role in the final, reminisced about his game-changing century. His knock of 114 runs came after a lucky escape when he was dismissed off a no-ball early in his innings. Reflecting on the moment, Fakhar revealed that he had jokingly wished for such luck before the match, which later turned into reality.

“When I said that, it was just a casual comment during a conversation with my teammates. No one really took it seriously. But when it actually happened, everyone started saying I had seen it in my dreams!” he laughed.

His stellar performance propelled Pakistan to a massive total of 338, laying the foundation for a famous victory.

Mohammad Amir played an equally vital role, delivering one of the most memorable spells in Pakistan’s cricket history. The left-arm pacer dismantled India’s top order by dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan in quick succession.

“Honestly, that pitch wasn’t swinging much. Even in the morning, there wasn’t a lot of movement,” Amir said. “But I had this feeling that something special was going to happen. When I got Rohit out first, the energy just kept building,” he added.

Amir recalled that when Virat Kohli fell, he was almost certain that Pakistan had secured the match.

“The moment Kohli got out, I thought, ‘We’ve won 60% of the game.’ It was a surreal feeling.” he remarked.

After lifting the trophy, both players were overwhelmed by the celebrations back home. Fakhar recalled struggling to exit the airport due to the massive crowds, while Amir described the joyous scenes in the streets of Karachi.

“I didn’t realize the magnitude of what we had achieved until we landed in Pakistan. People came from all over to celebrate with us,” said Fakhar.

The Champions Trophy 2017 remains one of Pakistan’s greatest cricketing achievements, and both Amir and Fakhar cherish their contributions to the historic win.

Shaheen ready to defend

Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed his determination to successfully defend the prestigious ICC Men’s Champions Trophy title, stating he wants to wear the iconic white jacket.

In a video shared by the apex cricketing body, Afridi recalled the national team’s historic victory in June 2017 after a one-sided final against arch-rivals India at The Oval.

The left-arm pacer revealed that he was playing Under-19 cricket for Pakistan back then and watched the blockbuster clash on TV.

“I was playing for Pakistan U-19 when we won the Champions Trophy in 2017. I watched that game on TV, and it was a special moment for our country,” he stated.

Shaheen Shah Afridi then shared his plans for the upcoming eight-team tournament, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, and hailed experienced pacer Mohammad Amir and top-order batter Fakhar Zaman for their contributions in the final.

“I want us to wear that white coat again after the final this time. I can never forget Fakhar Zaman’s innings, which changed the game completely, and Mohammad Amir’s spell,” he added.

“Everyone contributed to the win, but those performances stand out. I believe it was a team effort, and we need that again. We want to win the title once more and keep the trophy at home.”

For the unversed, Zaman’s blistering century in the final helped Pakistan amass a massive total of 338/4 before Amir’s fierce opening spell dismantled India’s strong top order, which eventually resulted in the defending champions being bowled out for a meagre 158.