50 years ago: How Pakistan punched above their weight to tame England

1974: The English summer was ending and autumn was just around the corner. England had just annihilated India, thrashing them 3-0 in the Test series and 2-0 in the One-day Internationals.

Next up was Pakistan. And they, too, were supposed to be easy prey for the hosts, who were then considered to be one of the best teams in the world.

But Pakistan had a habit of punching above their weight. They did that again by drawing the Test series 0-0 and then surprising England in both the ODIs — ensuring a memorable series for the Pakistanis.

Joy in Nottingham

The first ODI (50 over) was played in Nottingham. Those were the early years of the ODIs, a format which was introduced in 1971. For Pakistan, it was only their second ODI outing.

In their maiden ODI in 1973, Pakistan had lost to New Zealand in Christchurch. In those days, New Zealand were regarded as the minnows of international cricket.

England won the toss and opted to bat first. Left-handed opener David Lloyd, who had debuted against India, batted throughout the 50 years scoring 116. Fast bowler Chris Old usually batted at No. 8 but the hard-hitter was sent at No. 5 and didn’t disappoint, scoring 39 off 31 balls. England’s total at the end of 50 overs was 244 for four. It was a formidable tally in those days considering there were no field restrictions during that nascent stage of the ODIs. All the 11 players could be placed anywhere on the ground and not every ball missing the leg stump was declared wide.

Pakistan’s pace quartet, Asif Masood, Sarfraz Nawaz, Imran Khan and Asif Iqbal, had a full quota of 10 overs each conceding 31, 46, 36 and 40 runs, respectively. Skipper Intikhab Alam, a wily leg-spinner, was quite expensive with 58 runs in seven overs.

It was Majid’s day

Pakistan began the reply with Majid Khan and Sadiq Mohammad. Before this tour, Majid, who had debuted for Pakistan in 1964, always batted in the middle order. Pakistan team manager, the legendary cricket commentator Omar Kureshi, had persuaded him to open the innings after the first Test of this 1974 tour. Later, the Majid/Sadiq duo went down in Pakistan cricket’s history as one of the finest opening pair.

Majid took over the stage from the outset and what transpired was unbelievable. In his characteristic effortless style, he repeatedly hit boundaries across all parts of the ground.

Sadiq departed after contributing 41 off only 52 balls at 113. Zaheer Abbas joined Majid, who completed his scintillating century off 88 balls – easily comparable to a less than 50-ball ODI hundred in today’s cricket. Majid finally got out on 109, studded with 16 fours and a six, and was given a standing ovation by the crowd including thousands of Pakistani expats.

Zaheer (31) was the third wicket to fall. The experienced Asif Iqbal and Mushtaq Mohammad sailed Pakistan to victory, both unbeaten on 24. Pakistan’s remarkable seven-wicket victory was attained with more than seven overs remaining.

Majid was the automatic choice for the Player of the Match. Many rated his dazzling innings as the best in the Prudential Trophy matches (played annually from 1972 to 1982) in England between the hosts and the visiting sides.

Pakistan bowlers make critics eat their own words

The English media praised Pakistan’s big victory. But some raised doubts over their bowlers’ ability, “the team is mainly dependent on its batsmen’s brilliance. The bowlers are not in the same league”.

The comments didn’t go well with the Pakistan team’s manager Omar Kureshi, “I told Sarfraz, Asif Masood and Imran in no uncertain terms that they have to prove the critics wrong.”

The second ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on September 3 was curtailed to 35 overs due to rain.

Sensing the conditions favoring swing and seam, skipper Intikhab put England to bat after winning the toss.

Pakistani seamers took their manager’s advice to heart. Opener Mike Smith fell for zero to Asif Masood; followed by a procession of batters to and fro from the crease. At one point, the scoreboard read an unbelievable 25-8. However, a 40-run snail-paced stand between Bob Taylor and Underwood helped England to reach 81-9 when 35 overs ended with the latter hitting the only two boundaries of the innings.

The 82-run target was seemingly a cakewalk for Pakistan. Majid, the hero of the first match, fell for a duck off Arnold in the first over. The most optimist among the England supporters might have thought of their bowlers repeating what the Pakistanis did earlier in the day.

Majestic Zaheer in full flow

Enter another great stroke player Zaheer Abbas and the English hopes ended. It was at the same Edgbaston ground where Zaheer had played that epic knock of 274 in only his second Test in 1971.

With his characteristic flowing back lift, Zaheer drove spectacularly delighting the spectators especially those waving the green flag. Sadiq again had to play second fiddle. When he was dismissed, his share was only 12 out of 60. Elder brother Mushtaq replaced the left-hander Sadiq. Pakistan sped to 84 in only the 18th over, winning by eight wickets and Zaheer was not out on 57 in only 61 balls.

The bowlers ensured Pakistan's victory by restricting England to a meager total. All four seamers, Asif Masood, Sarfraz Nawaz, Imran Khan and Asif Iqbal had taken two wickets each. Asif Masood was selected for the Player of the Match award after amazing figures of 7-2-9-2.

Result of matches during Pakistan's tour of England in 1974.Nukta

Pakistan ‘favorites’ for 1975 World Cup: Benaud

England boasted the best limited over domestic structure at the time; three one-day league competitions. Outside England, some countries didn’t even have any domestic one-day event including Pakistan and India. The Pakistan side included no less than eight players playing in England’s County Circuit. Still, they were not expected to steamroll the strong England side in this manner.

The inaugural Cricket World Cup was scheduled to kick off in nine months and Pakistan’s performance against England made them one of the favorites for the mega event.

The former Australian captain Richie Benaud, for many the most respected connoisseur of that era, commented that “Pakistan are the favorites for the 1975 World Cup.”

Ijaz Chaudhry is a freelance sports writer based in Lahore.