TOI Sports Desk
Pakistan were in control of the match up until the end of 13th over, and were comfortably placed at 73 for 2 in 12.1 overs, when Hardik Pandya triggered Pakistan’s downward slide with the wicket of Fakhar Zaman on the next ball.
T20 WORLD CUP: Schedule | Points Table
Being 73 for 3 at that point, Pakistan were still the overwhelming favourites to win as they needed 47 runs in 47 balls with seven wickets in hand and opener Mohammad Rizwan well set. But once Jasprit Bumrah returned to bowl in the 15th over and dismissed Rizwan for 31, the tables started turning on Pakistan, who choked and ended up at 113 for 7 to lose by six runs.
In a video shot by Afridi’s team and shared on social media, the former Pakistan captain is seen talking to Yuvraj and reminding him that he congratulated way too in advance, when the game was still wide open.
“Lala, why are you sad? What happened,” Yuvraj is seen in the video, walking up to Afridi.
“My being sad is right or wrong? Was this a match we (Pakistan) should have lost?” the former Pakistan all-rounder asked his counterpart.
WATCH VIDEO
“When we were left to score 40 runs, Yuvraj told me ‘Lala, congratulations! I am leaving, won’t watch the rest of the game’. I told him ‘Yuvi, chaalis runs boht hain iss pitch pe. Itni jaldi mubarakbad na de mujhe (40 runs are a lot on this pitch, don’t congratulate me so early),” Afridi added.
Pakistan, who were shocked in their opening match by USA in a ‘Super Over’ defeat, are now in a desperate situation after losing to India and must beat Canada in their next match to stay alive for a place in the ‘Super 8’ stage of the tournament.
Top two teams from each of the four groups will progress to ‘Super 8’.
“I told you Pakistan will win, but I was still confident that we (India) can win it from there,” Yuvraj said to Afridi at the end of the video. “Winning and losing is part of the game, what’s important is that our bonhomie should continue.”
Pakistan take on Canada in New York on Tuesday.