Misbah-ul-Haq recalls his ‘Scoop Shot’ in ICC World T20 2007 finals

There are two things in the ICC World T20 2007 finals that have never been in doubt. One is that MS Dhoni’s tactical decision to go for Joginder Sharma instead of the lead spinner paid off and the other is Misbah-ul-Haq’s scoop shot in the fag end of the overs ended on a sad note for the entire Pakistan nation.

Misbah-ul-Haq was the solo warrior with grit and determination in pursuit of tracking the run chase. He single-handedly managed to thrash the bowlers and was closing in on the chase despite the fall of wickets from the other end.

The end result was in stark contrast to Pakistan’s expectations. Misbah-ul-Haq’s scoop shot in pressure situation did not come the way he would have thought as Sreesanth caught the ball in his safe pair of hands and the party began for the Men in Blue.

The former Pakistan skipper and batting great Misbah-ul-Haq, in an interview with Cricbuzz spoke about the scoop shot that he played during the World T20 2007 finals.

Misbah has no regrets in picking up the shot as he believes that he made his choice quite clear in opting to go for scoop shot in crunch situations of the game.

He stressed the fact that he went for it because he was confident about it. But, for the very first time, he mistimed it in the tournament that came in the finals.

“I must say one thing… at that time I analyzed the situation and I picked my best shot at that pressure situation because I was so confident about it. I played that shot throughout that World Cup so successfully and even before.

I missed that shot for the first time in the tournament. Afterwards, you can think that ok I could have done this or that and could have played it differently but at the end, I am satisfied that I picked my best shot about which I was so confident.

Sometimes it happens that your best shots just don’t pay off. Because of the occasion everyone still remembers it but afterwards, I just put it behind and said no I have to move forward,” Misbah-ul-Haq told.