Will Pakistan be able to emulate its 1987 Test victory over England?

Considering how well England has been playing, a victory seems like a herculean task for Misbahul Haq and company.

The year 1987 is knows as the golden year in the history of Pakistan cricket because of the many memorable victories it bagged back then. A monumental series win in Headingley, England, against England itself, was a great comeback after a series loss back in 1982.

Imran Khan takes his 300th Test wicket, Jack Richards caught by Ijaz Ahmed for 2.Photo: Getty Photos

For the first time, our cricket team was invited to play a full Test series (five matches) in England. After a defeat in the first two Tests, our team was on its way to Headingley, Leeds, for the third Test. But this time around, they were determined to achieve the impossible.

England’s captain, Mike Gatting, was elected to bat first after winning the toss. This proved to be a fatal choice for the team. After a few overs, the scoreboard read 31-5, thanks to Pakistan’s strong bowling attack, led by our enigmatic skipper.

Mike Gatting among celebrities art Steeple Aston.Photo: The Oxford Times

On a side note, I’d like to tell present-day cricket fans how lucky they are to be able to watch matches live from any part of the world. Back in the day, getting a live telecast of matches played outside Pakistan, especially those not in Asia, was next to impossible. Our television channels used to make arrangements for live screenings of Wimbledon or of a football match, but they held back when it came to cricket, even though it was a crowd favourite.

Coming back to the Headingley Test, I remember following the match on my pocket sized radio set and dancing with joy whenever the commentator announced the fall of an English wicket. Radio commentary is a real art since commentators have to narrate the whole situation in a way that makes listeners feel as if they are actually present in the stadium, watching events unfold before their eyes.

The sound of the crowd is also an indicator of what’s going on in the stadium and I distinctly recall one of the Radio Pakistan commentators mentioning the pin drop silence in the ground when England’s wickets were consecutively falling.

England, after throwing away five wickets, began reconstructing their first innings with the help of Ian Botham and debutant David Campbell. The sixth wicket partnership of 55 runs was beginning to look like a threat, but thanks to Mudassar Nazar, also known as the Man with the Golden Arm, this partnership was soon broken. The remaining four batsmen added another 50 runs to the total and England was dismissed for a paltry 136 in the first innings.

Ian Botham in his whites.newstatesman

Mudassar NazarPhoto: news18.com

Pakistan confidently began to prepare itself for its innings and, at the end of day, the scoreboard read 76-2, a relatively stronger position than that of England.

We had to go to a wedding on the first day of the match, but I was so engrossed in the match that I followed Pakistan’s innings by listening to the commentary from the car radio.

On the second day of the Test match, Pakistan lost Mansoor Akhtar and Javed Miandad for an additional 10 runs on the board. Miandad’s dismissal was a real setback and provided an opportunity for England to get back into the series.

Mansoor AkhtarPhoto: cricages.com

May 21, 1987 Javed Miandad made 113Photo: ESPN

But that was England’s last cause for a celebration during the match, considering our batting line-up, spearheaded by Saleem Malik’s magnificent 99 runs enabled Pakistan to lead by 217 runs.

In its quest for survival, England tried to regain composure at the start of the new innings, but Imran Khan dismissed Chris Broad on the second ball of the innings in a rather controversial manner. Broad allowed the ball to go through, outside his off-stump and removed his hand from the bat handle, but the ball rebounded off his glove and landed in Saleem Yousuf’s gloves.

Imran Khan shines the ball, England v Pakistan, 5th Test, The Oval, 4th day, August 10, 1987.Photo: Google

The entire Pakistan team appealed in unison and, to Broad’s surprise, the umpire raised his finger to signal Broads’ dismissal. In those days, we didn’t have savvy TV technology to support on field umpires and, if it was declared ‘out’, batsmen had no choice but to walk back to the pavilion.

Pakistan slowly, but surely continued its march towards victory as our bowlers, led by Imran Khan, reduced England to 186-7 by the end of the third day’s play.

Pakistan manager Ahsan Haseeb talks to captain Imran Khan, August 5, 1987Photo: ESPN Cricinfo

During that era, a rest day after three days of play was necessary. I remember I passed that entire day fearing it may rain in Headingley, which would end up jeopardising Pakistan’s march towards a much deserved triumph. PTV did us a huge favour when it announced that it would be telecasting the first session of day four’s play.

Excited, yet nervous, my uncle, brothers and I had our eyes glued to the screen, hoping that Pakistan would rapidly finish up the match so that we could witness the historic moment live on TV. Pakistan needed to take three wickets in 31 balls in order to win.

Imran Khan bowled his heart out and picked seven wickets during England’s second innings. He was declared man of the match for his 10 wicket haul. In the process, he became the eighth bowler in cricket history to reach the 300 Test wickets mark.

Since the rest of the matches were drawn, the victory at Headingley was enough to secure our first ever series win in England.

Winning in alien conditions, such as those witnessed in England, is considered a great achievement for teams from the subcontinent. Pakistan was on a victory roll that particular year. After a Test series and ODI win against India in India, we managed to win a Test series against England as well.

On the other hand, 1986-87 proved to be an unfortunate year for England since it succumbed to two Test series defeat within the span of a year; one against India and one against Pakistan. England had to then wait for another 19 years in order to beat Pakistan in a Test series in England.

Less than 10 days away, Pakistan will be playing a Test series against England at Lord’s. Considering how well England has been playing over the last few years, being able to win a series in England again seems like a herculean task for Misbahul Haq and company.

Cricket - Pakistan v England - Third Test - Sharjah Cricket Stadium, United Arab EmiratesPhoto: The Himalayan Times