Despite too much anticipation of India vs Pakistan final in the T20 World Cup 2022, the dream clash could not turn into reality as England knocked out inaugural champions from the semi-final stage. However, Pakistan is up against England in the summit-clash at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik, who was earlier snubbed by the Pakistan selectors for the World Cup, has now made a shocking claim regarding the inaugural T20 World Cup 2007 final between India and Pakistan.
While talking in one of the Pakistan’s news channels alongside Misbah ul Haq, Waqar Younis, and Wasim Akram, Malik claimed that Indian bowlers were afraid of bowling to Misbah ul Haq and refused to bowl the final over of the match which was eventually bowled by Joginder Sharma.
“People often talk about the scoop shot by Misbah. I am telling you, if it was not the last wicket, he must have hit down the ground. He had already hit the Joginder Sharma for a big six in that over,” said Shoaib Malik.
Speaking of the last over scenario, three Indian bowlers – RP Singh, R Sreesant and Irfan Pathan – had bowled their quota of four overs, and only Harbhajan Singh and Joginder Sharma had an over left. But Singh had been hit for three sixes by Misbah in the 17th over, while Joginder Sharma appeared confident to bowl the final over, as then Indian skipper MS Dhoni had revealed in one of his interactions.
Meanwhile, Misbah ul Haq also revealed the reason behind his bizarre shot selection which costed the side their maiden T20 World Cup title. “That was the shot I was playing throughout the tournament. The plan to get a boundary, and then we will need one run to level the score, they will bring the field up and then I will finish the match,” emotional Misbah recalled.
The former Pakistan skipper further revealed that he is not an 'emotional guy' but the final loss got the better of him. “We were a step ahead from the rest of the teams. We dominated the 2007 World Cup team. Unfortunately, we could not win the final,” Misbah said.