The Pakistan-England Thriller At Rawalpindi in 1987 Cricket World Cup : A Clash of Grit, Spin, and Strategy

Throughout the 1980s, England faced a rollercoaster of cricketing emotions. They challenged Australia head-on, traded blows with India, and suffered relentless hammerings from the West Indies' fearsome pace attack. Their encounters with Pakistan, however, carried a unique tension. The infamous Shakoor Rana incident symbolized their fraught relationship, and the mystique of Abdul Qadir, Pakistan’s spin wizard, added another layer of torment for the Englishmen.

Qadir’s mastery over England was legendary. His unorthodox leg-spin baffled even seasoned batters. Vic Marks summed it up best: “Good Lord, he’s bowled me a full-toss. Where shall I smash it? Hang on it’s a low full-toss. Not to worry. Maybe it’s a half-volley. Oh no, it’s a length ball and I’m groping hopelessly.” Qadir’s dominance against England was a critical factor whenever the two teams met, and this match at Rawalpindi was no exception.

A Muddy Start and a Defiant Pakistan

Pakistan, entering the 1987 World Cup as one of the favourites, had already faced a stiff challenge from Sri Lanka in their opening match. England, on the other hand, came off a thrilling victory against the West Indies at Gujranwala, courtesy of Allan Lamb’s heroics. The stakes were high as the two teams clashed in Rawalpindi for Pool A supremacy.

Rain on the scheduled day of play turned the outfield into what Wisden aptly described as a “mudfield.” When play resumed on the reserve day, Mike Gatting’s decision to field first seemed justified as England’s fielders struck early. Chris Broad’s sharp fielding ran out Rameez Raja, putting Pakistan on the back foot. But the seasoned duo of Saleem Malik and Javed Miandad steadied the ship, countering England’s disciplined bowling with grit and precision.

DeFreitas’s double breakthrough, dismissing Miandad and Malik in quick succession, threatened to derail Pakistan’s innings. However, Ijaz Ahmed and a food-poisoned Imran Khan anchored the middle order with a crucial 79-run partnership. Imran’s resilience, despite his illness, allowed Ijaz to accelerate, and Qadir’s late cameo alongside Saleem Yousuf propelled Pakistan to a respectable 239 for 7.

England’s Response and Qadir’s Magic

 Chasing 240, England’s openers began cautiously, adding 52 runs before Qadir’s artistry dismantled Graham Gooch’s defence. Broad’s dismissal by Tauseef Ahmed and Qadir’s removal of Tim Robinson further tightened Pakistan’s grip. Gatting’s brisk 43 from 47 balls kept England in the hunt, but his dismissal left the visitors needing 34 from 24 balls with Lamb and Derek Pringle at the crease.

 Qadir, entrusted with the ball during the critical phase, turned the game on its head. Lamb, England’s hero against the West Indies, fell leg-before to Qadir’s guile. A disastrous mix-up between Emburey and Pringle led to Emburey’s run out. Paul Downton’s edge off Qadir was brilliantly caught by Saleem Yousuf, marking a dramatic collapse as Qadir claimed three wickets in the span of one run.

England’s slim hopes were extinguished by further run-outs of Pringle and Foster, leaving Gladstone Small—a bowler with no batting pretensions—to face the music. Saleem Jaffar delivered the final blow, trapping Small leg-before to seal Pakistan’s 18-run victory.

A Triumph of Spin and Fielding

This match epitomized Pakistan’s reliance on spin and strategic fielding. Abdul Qadir’s spell, coupled with sharp fielding and tactical captaincy, turned a potentially close contest into a decisive victory. His ability to outfox England’s batters highlighted their longstanding vulnerability against high-quality spin.

For England, the loss underscored the perils of poor running between the wickets and the inability to counter spin effectively. Despite moments of brilliance from Gatting and Lamb, their middle and lower order crumbled under pressure, handing Pakistan a crucial win.

The Rawalpindi encounter remains a testament to the impact of spin and fielding in limited-overs cricket. Abdul Qadir’s wizardry and Pakistan’s strategic acumen prevailed, reaffirming their status as tournament favourites while exposing England’s frailties on the subcontinental stage.

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar