“Hype After That Was Incredible”: Misbah Considers the Magnificent 2007 T20 World Cup Finals between IND and PAK

The T20 World Cup 2024 is quickly approaching, and as cricket’s shortest format continues to gain popularity, Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq, a veteran who stunned Indian cricket fans in the game’s final, thought back on that historic encounter and concluded that the 2007 competition laid the groundwork for the 20-over format to thrive.

The former Pakistan international led his country in every format after playing a significant part in getting his team to the finals. He continued to play well till the very end, scoring 43 off of 38 balls in the Johannesburg finals, but finally failed when he was removed for a scoop shot that went up in the air and was caught by Sreesanth, helping India win their first-ever T20 World Cup.

The former captain of Pakistan said, looking back on his experience in the 2007 World Cup, that India vs. Pakistan, the greatest rivalry in cricket, helped shape the game into what it is now.

“Not every team was taking the 2007 T20 World Cup seriously. A youthful Mahendra Singh Dhoni was given the captaincy by India. But the most intense rivalry in cricket history was the final between India and Pakistan. The 49-year-old said on “Star Sports Press Room” on Wednesday, “The hype that T20 got after that World Cup is enormous.”

“I think that the success of Twenty20 cricket, along with the accomplishments of our players who are currently playing in various leagues, is truly remarkable,” he said.

With another Twenty20 World Cup approaching, Rohit Sharma’s team will try to move past the disappointment of losing to Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023 and carry on with the same kind of dominance that won over many cricket fans in the nation when they played under his guidance in the past.

As part of their group stage schedule, the Men in Blue will take on Ireland on June 5. Pakistan will also be a part of their group. On June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, the two bitter rivals will square off.