Kapil Dev (L) and Javed Miandad. Photo: Twitter
The fate of the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup final was almost in India’s hands. Even until the last ball, the balance was in their favor. However, Pakistan won the match by hitting an extraordinary six in the last ball – an uncommon feat back in that era. India’s then captain, Kapil Dev, reveals he still can’t sleep when he recalls that match.
Political conflicts had forced bilateral series between India and Pakistan from being held for many years. Thus, the events organized by ICC and ACC remain the only hope. As the two teams prepare to face each other in the Asia Cup match in Dubai next Sunday, former players of the two archrivals are, understandably, recollecting unforgettable moments from their past.
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For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. Kapil reminisced about that 1986 match in a discussion with former Pakistan great Wasim Akram on Star Sports segment titled ‘Frenemies’. In that match, needing four runs to win from the last ball, Javed Miandad won the match for Pakistan by hitting Chetan Sharma’s last ball for a maximum.
“We thought we should have 12-13 runs to defend in the last over of the match. It was a very difficult task, almost impossible in those times,” said Dev.
When the last over came, we went to Chetan. To this day, I still feel it wasn’t his mistake. They needed 4 runs on the last ball and we decided that it would be a low-yorker.
“There was no other alternative. He tried his best, we all tried. It turned out to be a low full-toss. Miandad kept his backfoot intact and connected it. Even when we remember that today, we can’t sleep,” added the 1983 World Cup-winning captain.
“That defeat crushed the whole side’s confidence for the next four years. It was very difficult to make a comeback from there.”
