In Sharjah, where the sun casts long shadows over cricket’s storied theatre, Pakistan produced a performance as devastating as it was dazzling — a symphony of precision and power that culminated in one of the most brutal thrashings in ODI history. Their 217-run obliteration of Sri Lanka in the 2002 Sharjah Cup final was not just a victory; it was an emphatic announcement that Pakistan’s fabled flair could, when channelled, morph into unrelenting efficiency.
From Elegance to Execution: Pakistan’s Batting Renaissance
The script of domination began with Pakistan's innings — an essay of restraint and rupture. Imran Nazir, returning from the wilderness with the fire of redemption in his eyes, laid the foundation with a fluent 63, his bat a brushstroke on Sharjah’s canvas. His departure, followed by Afridi’s customary blaze-out and Inzamam’s unfortunate run-out, might have induced nerves in lesser sides. But Pakistan found poise in the most elegant of architects — Yousuf Youhana.
Crafting his highest ODI score, Youhana was a vision of classical batsmanship in a modern arena. His 129 off 131 deliveries wasn’t just a knock; it was a masterclass in tempo and timing. The strokes flowed — silken drives, wristy flicks, and calculated lofts — punctuated with three sixes and eight fours. But beyond the boundaries lay the substance: controlled rotation, tireless running, and an anchoring calm.
Beside him, Younis Khan matured before our eyes. Once derided for his inconsistencies, he blossomed in Youhana’s company. Their 155-run partnership was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s innings, elevating the score from a respectable 136 to a match-seizing 291. Together, they imbued the middle overs with purpose — neither meandering nor manic — transforming accumulation into assertion.
Even as the innings closed with back-to-back dismissals, including Youhana falling in poetic symmetry with Younis, the scoreboard bore testimony to an effort both monumental and methodical: 295 for 6 — the highest of the tournament.
Collapse at Dawn: Sri Lanka’s Capitulation
Chasing 296 under Sharjah’s unforgiving heat required nerves of steel and the skill of sages. Sri Lanka brought neither. With the asking rate perched around six from the outset, the Lankan top-order combusted under the weight of scoreboard pressure and Pakistan’s fast-bowling fury.
Wasim Akram, the eternal conjurer, set the tone by deceiving Marvan Atapattu, who chopped on — a dismissal as symbolic as it was sudden. From there, it was an unravelling. Sanath Jayasuriya, gambling with aggression, mistimed a pull off Shoaib Akhtar — caught by the bowler himself. Sangakkara followed suit, and then Chaminda Vaas fell lbw to Akram in the next over, a misadventure in pinch-hitting that reeked of desperation.
The scoreboard became a graveyard. Shoaib, raw and roaring, bowled with a mix of menace and mastery, ending with figures of 3 for 11. Younis Khan and Akram added scalps with surgical precision. By the 17th over, Sri Lanka stood decimated at 78 for 9 — their innings collapsed like a house built on sand. The absence of Muralitharan, nursing a dislocated shoulder in hospital, left the score terminally incomplete. But even his presence wouldn’t have rewritten this script.
Muralitharan's Misfortune: A Silent Tragedy
Overshadowing Sri Lanka’s fielding effort was the sight of Muttiah Muralitharan writhing in pain after a routine dive. The injury — a suspected ligament tear — could sideline the magician for months, robbing world cricket of one of its brightest stars. His void was felt instantly; his absence from the attack allowed Pakistan to plunder runs with impunity. In retrospect, his fall symbolised Sri Lanka’s collapse: their talisman wounded, their spirit broken.
Overkill, or Just Reward?
Ironically, this ruthless Pakistan side had only recently been accused of lacking the killer instinct. In Sharjah, they didn’t just kill — they carpet-bombed. With a balance of artistry and aggression, they lifted the Sharjah Cup and pocketed $120,000 in prize money. But far more valuable was the resurrection of belief — that when its talents align, Pakistan can not only win but annihilate.
Sharjah has long been a stage for Pakistani magic. On this April day, it witnessed an execution — graceful, grim, and unforgettable.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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