THE CHAMPIONS ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY. November 02, 2017 (2017-08)

ICC Champions Trophy, previously ICC Knockout Tournament, was initiated by ICC in 1998, featuring 50 overs matches, known as ODI's, to be held after every four years. However, in 2002 it was renamed as ICC Champion's Trophy. At its inception only ICC's full members could participate, but later, from 2002 to 2004, also allowed ICC associate members to take part. From 2009 onwards the tournament, dubbed as the Mini World Cup, and was limited to the eight highest-ranked teams. ICC works out the rankings on a point basis, six months prior to beginning of the tournament.

The Eighth Champions Trophy was held in England and Wales from 1st June to 18th June 2017. The West Indies team, title holders of 2004 Champion's trophy, failed to qualify among the top eight rankings teams. Group A had England, Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Pakistan was placed in Group B, along with South Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. South Africa entered the tournament with top ranking and India was placed at number three Pakistan team ranked last, the clear underdogs for this event.

Pakistan played its first match against India on 4th June at Edgbaston Cricket Ground. Customary to Pakistan India match, the countdown for this event began well in advance. This was the first encounter of the teams since 15th February 2015 World Cup at Adelaide. All odds were in favor for an outright win for the Indian team, and Pakistan team put up a dismal performance, much to the dismay of their supporters. India batting first scored 319 runs, losing only three wickets. Their batsmen scored easily; Rohit Sharma (91), Shikhar Dhawan (68), Virat Kohli (81) and Yuvraj Sing (53) and made sure of a big score. Stoppage because of rain, Pakistan as per D/L method, was given a target of 289 runs to be scored in 41 overs. Unfortunately the whole team was out for 164 runs in the 34th over. Only Azhar Ali could manage 50 runs. India's outright win left Pakistan cricket fans in a sheer disappointment.

This victory of Indian team came as a blessing in disguise for the Pakistan Team, and put pressure on the players and coaching staff to get their act together. Head coach, Mickey Arthur, and team captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, initiated an aggressive strategy to play without the fear of losing, and a positive attitude inspired a fighting spirit. All the players were resolute to put up a spirited performance in the remaining matches. The message for other teams was, "don't write us off, we are here to play the finals".

The next match was against the top ranking team of the tournament, South Africa, and played on 7th June at Birmingham. Pakistan, with the best seam attack of tournament showed their potential, exhibiting a fierce bowling display, and a strong batting line, with players like Hashim Amla, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers, and David Miller, South Africa could muster only 219 runs in the allotted 50 overs. Hasan Ali, named Man of the Match, claimed three wickets for 24 runs, in eight overs; Imad Wasim and Junaid Khan took two wickets each. Pakistan needed a run rate of 4.38, to win. They were 119 for 3, when the match could not be continued due to rain and Pakistan were declared winners, by 19 runs via the DLS method. Fakhar Zaman made his ODI debut and scored a quick-fire 31 runs. He would soon be a celebrity, playing a major role in the coming matches. This victory against the world's number one ranked team was labeled as the first upset of the tournament. It renewed the grit and resolve of Pakistani players and from here onwards they never looked back.

Next Pakistan played Sri Lanka on 12th June, at Cardiff. Sri Lankan team, led by Angelo Mathews, was without their star batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, but still a fighting team, not to be taken lightly at all. Sarfaraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to bowl first, on a surface that bore a green tinge. Sri Lanka was comfortably placed at 161 for three in the 32nd over, with both batsmen, Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella, well set for a big score. Looking for a breakthrough, Sarfaraz bought back his left arm pace duo of Mohammad Amir and Junaid khan, into attack. What followed was a magical four overs spell; superb display of swing and pace attack, sharing two wickets each. Amir and Junaid ripped the heart out of the Sri Lankan middle order as they went from 161 for 3 to 167 for 7 wickets. It proved to be the turning point of the match. Hassan Ali showed his class, taking three wickets. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 234 runs, Niroshan Dickwell scoring the highest, with 73 runs.

Pakistan's opening pair of Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali gave a flying start, Fakhar Zaman played a swashbuckling knock of 50 runs from only 36 balls; his maiden half century in ODI's. He was out in the 12th over, with Pakistan at 77 runs. Pakistan lost two more quick wickets of Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez. To add to tension of the Pakistan supporters, Azhar Ali was out in the 20th over and Shoaib Malik in the 25th. Imad Wasim fell five balls later, leaving Pakistan reeling at 136 for 6 wickets, requiring 100 runs to win. There was a brief partnership between debutant Faheem Ashraf and Sarfaraz Ahmed, till Faheem lost his wicket in the 30th over, with Pakistan needing 75 runs to win. It looked the match had gone out of Pakistan's hands, but Sarfaraz kept his cool, and along with Amir, shared a match winning partnership to see Pakistan through to the semifinals. It was a wonderful effort, playing under pressure in a crunch match and achieving the target with 31 balls to spare. Man of the match, Sarfaraz Ahmed, top scored with 61 runs with Amir remaining unbeaten on 28.

On 14th June, Pakistan played the first semifinal of the Champion's Trophy against England, at Cardiff, Wales. England, tournament favorites, enjoyed the advantage of playing at home and was the only unbeatable side in the tournament so far. Pakistan team had a major setback, as the main strike bowler, Mohammad Amir was out with a back problem, and in his place Rumman Raees made his ODI debut. Pakistan bowlers bowled an impeccable line and length. The indomitable team of the tournament was bowled out for 211 runs. Joe Root, with 46, was the highest scorer. This was the third successive match when Pakistani bowlers bowled out their opponents under a score of 240 runs. Junaid Khan and Rumman Raees shared two wickets each; Imad Wasim was accurate enough to give only 16 runs in five overs, but the pick of the bowlers was Hasan Ali, Man of the Match, taking 3 wickets for 35 runs. Brilliant fielding and attacking captaincy from Sarfaraz Ahmed backed Pakistani bowlers. Chasing 211 to win, Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali made118 runs for the opening wicket partnership, the highest ever opening stand for Pakistan, in the Champions Trophy. The partnership put Pakistan on course for an impressive victory. Fakhar Zaman was the first to go with an aggressive knock of 58 runs, his second consecutive half century, Azhar Ali scored a classy 76. Babar Azam, 38 and Mohammad Hafeez, a quick 31, made sure of easy sailing, as Pakistan achieved the target in the 38th over. Pakistan was through to the finals.

On 18th June 2017, nearly every home in Pakistan and India and cricket fans all over the world, were glued to their Televisions, watching the most intense rivalry in the cricketing world. On the screen was Pakistan Versus India, final of the ICC Champions Trophy at the historical jam-packed Oval cricket ground in London. Cricket pundits had declared India as clear favorites, termed as tournament's most powerful batting line, with a balanced bowling attack, and a convincing victory over Pakistan in the league matches. India enjoyed all the advantages.

Azhar Ali and Fakhar Zaman opened the innings; in the fourth over Fakhar nicked Jasprit Bumrah to the keeper, only to be let off by a no ball. This lucky escape for Fakhar Zaman proved too expensive for the Indians. Pakistan's first 100 runs came in the 18 overs, with a wonderful display of controlled aggression. In the 23rd over, Azhar Ali was unlucky to be run out for 59 runs, but this was not before the openers had recorded a partnership of 128 runs, the highest first wicket partnership against India at an ICC event. The fall of the wicket did not deter the attacking mood of Fakhar. He repulsed the bowling attack of the best Indian slow bowlers, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. At 56 off 73 balls, he hit the remaining 44 runs for his century off the next 19 balls, sweeping Ashwin for four to record his maiden ODI century. He became the first Pakistani to score a century in an ICC event final, the third player to score his maiden ODI century in an ICC event final, after Clive Lloyd and Philo Wallace. Neither Lloyd nor Wallace could score another. His perfect strokes, cuts, drives, pulls, and reverse sweep, in such a high pressure match, were a treat to watch. Fakhar Zaman was out in the 34th over, scoring 114 from 106 balls, in his fourth ODI. Pakistan, at 200 for 2 wickets, was given a perfect launching pad for a big score to follow. Babar Azam scored a well-played 46, Imad Wasim a breezy 25 and Hafeez added misery to the depleted Indian bowling attack, hitting three sixes and four fours for an unbeaten 57 of just 37 balls. Pakistani batsmen hit nine sixes, the most by any team in a final of ICC Champions Trophy history. Pakistan's 338/4 is the second-highest total in ICC tournament finals, after Australia's 359/2 against India in the final of the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

India, chasing a big score of 338 runs, encountered a scintillating opening spell from Mohammad Amir. Rohit Sharma was trapped LBW in the first over. Virat Kohli, to the horror of Pakistan supporters, was dropped at 5. While the Pakistan fans were still in a state of shock, on the very next ball, Amir had the Indian skipper caught by Shadab Khan. Getting the world number one batsman out, on the very next ball, exhibits Mohammad Amir's brilliance as the best-left arm bowler in the game today. Shikhar Dhawan was Amir's third victim, caught by Sarfaraz Ahmed, leaving India at a precarious score of 3 down for only 33 runs. Sarfaraz continued his attacking field placing, putting pressure on the Indian batsmen. Yuvraj Singh was LBW to Shadab Khan and the Indian team got a defining blow when M.S Dhoni was out for 4, leaving India 54 for 5 in the 14th over. Indian team's dressing room was in a state of shock. There was a quick 80 runs stand between Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, but the run out of Pandya, for a well-played 76, proved to be the last nail in the coffin. Hasan Ali wiped out the tail, finishing with match-figures of 3 for 19, Junaid Khan and Shadab Khan shared a wicket each and Amir finished with three wickets for 16 runs, and Pakistan won the ICC Champions Trophy-2017.

After a demoralizing loss in its opening game, the least fancied and lowest ranked team in the competition stunned the top ranking team South Africa, kept its nerves to beat Sri Lanka, outwitted England in the semifinals and in the finals against India, mauled their fancied bowling attack and destroyed the much talked about Indian batting line up in 31 overs, winning the finals with 180 runs, the highest margin of victory, in terms of runs, in the history of ICC Champion's Trophy finals. This is also Pakistan's highest winning margin over India in ODI cricket.

Fakhar Zaman received the man of the match award, with Hasan Ali, bagging two awards, "Golden Ball" award for taking 13 wickets and the Man of the Series for his outstanding contribution towards Pakistan's first ICC ODI tournament title since 1992. The large number of Pakistani Supporters cheered Pakistan Zindabad Slogans as Sarfaraz lifted the coveted trophy, followed by a victory lap by the newly crowned champions.

This victory completed Pakistan's honour of winning all the major ICC trophies; the under-19 World Cup, won twice in 2004 and 2006, 1992 Cricket World Cup, 2009 ICC T 20 World Cup and now the 2017 Champion's Trophy. The victory sent a wave of joy to Pakistanis all over the world. There were celebrations nationwide, from big cities to small villages, and the whole country was in a state of complete ecstacy. On arrival in Pakistan the team was given a tumultuous welcome, conferred with attractive cash prizes, and invited to various receptions, including one by the Prime Minister.

The win for Pakistan is great for the game of cricket, but most importantly, for the players and Pakistani people, who follow it as a passion and had been missing the absence of international cricket on their soil because of security concerns. Here one must give credit to PCB for initiating PSL. This has certainly introduced talented players like Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Rumman Raees, Fakhar Zaman, and Imad Wasim and provided them an opportunity to play with renowned international players in pressure matches, bringing a world of learning for young players.

The Champions ICC Champions Trophy 2017, a set of three Commemorative Postage Stamps of Rs. 10/-Each Stamp and Souvenir Sheet of Rs. 50/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on November 02, 2017.