SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, October 25, 1991: India had chosen to bowl first in the Wills Trophy final and reduced Pakistan to 23/2. With Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar taking early wickets, the decision seemed justified. By the end of the evening, however, India had been beaten by 72 runs, their leading batters had suffered an extraordinary collapse, and a young Pakistani fast bowler had produced one of the most devastating spells in One-Day International history. Aaqib Javed took 7/37, including a hat-trick that dismissed Ravi Shastri, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar from consecutive deliveries, as Pakistan defended 262/6 by bowling India out for 190.
The destruction was particularly remarkable because Pakistan’s victory had begun with a recovery from its own batting crisis. Zahid Fazal scored 98 from 119 deliveries before retiring hurt with cramp, while Saleem Malik contributed 87 from 95. Their 200-run partnership transformed 23/2 into 223/3, giving captain Imran Khan a substantial total to defend. India still possessed enough batting talent to challenge that score, but Aaqib removed seven of the ten dismissed batters and secured the Player of the Match award. Pakistan captured the Wills Trophy, while India’s Sanjay Manjrekar, who made 52 in the final, received the Player of the Series honor.
This historic encounter is Match 68 in The Sports Encounter’s A Celebration of 5000 ODIs, the special series examining 100 memorable men’s One-Day Internationals.
Its inclusion is justified by the extraordinary seven-wicket performance, the hat-trick against three of India’s most accomplished batters, Pakistan’s recovery from an early batting collapse and the significance of winning a major tournament final against its greatest cricketing rival.
The result also provided a striking continuation of Pakistan’s success at Sharjah, where Wasim Akram had completed another famous hat-trick in the 1990 Austral-Asia Cup final against Australia.
Pakistan vs India 1991 Wills Trophy Final: Match Summary
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Wills Sharjah Trophy 1991-92 |
| Stage | Final |
| Date | October 25, 1991 |
| Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| Toss | India won and elected to field |
| Pakistan | 262/6 in 50 overs |
| India | 190 all out in 46 overs |
| Result | Pakistan won by 72 runs |
| Player of the Match | Aaqib Javed |
| Player of the Series | Sanjay Manjrekar |
| Pakistan’s highest scorer | Zahid Fazal, 98 retired hurt |
| India’s highest scorer | Sanjay Manjrekar, 52 |
| Best bowling, Pakistan | Aaqib Javed, 7/37 |
| Best bowling, India | Kapil Dev, 3/36 |
| Decisive performance | Aaqib Javed’s hat-trick |
| Tournament consequence | Pakistan won the Wills Trophy |
The final brought together two teams that had already faced each other twice during the tournament’s round-robin stage.
India had won their earlier encounter by 60 runs before Pakistan responded with a narrow four-run victory.
The championship match therefore offered a decisive third meeting.
The final result was considerably more emphatic than either team’s narrow expectations might have suggested.
Zahid Fazal’s 98 Rescues Pakistan From 23/2 Before Cramp Denies Him a Century
Zahid Fazal produced one of the most important innings of his international career.
He scored 98 from 119 deliveries, hitting eight fours and one six.
His contribution came after Pakistan’s innings had suffered an uncertain start.
Aamer Sohail struggled against India’s new-ball bowling, scoring just one run from 24 deliveries before Manoj Prabhakar dismissed him.
Sajid Ali contributed ten from 20 deliveries before falling to Kapil Dev.
Pakistan were 23/2.
India had established early control and appeared capable of restricting the hosts to a modest total.
Zahid responded through patience and controlled strokeplay.
He initially concentrated on occupying the crease while Saleem Malik began rebuilding from the other end.
As the partnership developed, Zahid became increasingly comfortable against India’s bowlers.
He rotated the strike effectively and punished deliveries that allowed him to free his arms.
His innings was particularly valuable because Pakistan needed an established batter to remain at the crease while the middle order regained control.
Zahid reached 98 but was unable to complete his century.
Cramp forced him to retire hurt when Pakistan had reached 194/2.
He remained unbeaten in the scorebook but did not return to complete the innings.
That unfortunate ending has sometimes received less attention than Aaqib’s seven-wicket haul.
However, without Zahid’s contribution, Pakistan might never have established the total that allowed Aaqib to attack with such confidence.
Zahid Fazal’s Contribution
| Statistic | Performance |
|---|---|
| Runs | 98 |
| Balls faced | 119 |
| Fours | 8 |
| Sixes | 1 |
| Strike rate | 82.35 |
| Dismissal status | Retired hurt |
| Reason reported | Cramp |
| Pakistan’s total | 262/6 |
| Share of Pakistan’s runs | 37.40% |
Zahid contributed more than 37% of Pakistan’s total.
His innings also demonstrated the value of rebuilding after early wickets.
Pakistan’s opening collapse had provided India with an advantage, but Zahid ensured that advantage did not become decisive.
Saleem Malik’s 87 Turns Pakistan’s Recovery Into a Match-Winning Partnership
Saleem Malik played the other defining innings for Pakistan.
He scored 87 from 95 deliveries, striking six fours and one six.
His performance was important because Pakistan had lost both openers with only 23 runs on the scoreboard.
Malik and Zahid then constructed a partnership worth 200 runs before Malik departed.
The stand carried Pakistan from 23/2 to 223/3, with Zahid’s retirement occurring during the partnership’s progress.
That partnership represented a remarkable reversal.
India had taken two early wickets for 23 runs but then endured an extended period without another dismissal.
Malik’s batting combined stability with enough aggression to keep the scoring rate moving toward a competitive total.
He supported Zahid during the rebuilding phase before increasing his scoring rate as the innings progressed.
Eventually, Manoj Prabhakar dismissed Malik for 87, caught by Mohammad Azharuddin.
Pakistan were 223/3.
Although Malik had fallen short of a century, the damage had already been done.
India had been forced to spend most of the innings attempting to separate two established batters.
The partnership also exposed an important weakness in India’s bowling response.
After the early breakthroughs, India struggled to create sustained pressure through the middle overs.
Malik and Zahid were able to occupy the crease while scoring at a pace that gradually changed the expected total.
Pakistan’s Defining Partnership
| Match situation | Pakistan |
|---|---|
| After two wickets | 23/2 |
| Zahid Fazal | 98 from 119 |
| Saleem Malik | 87 from 95 |
| Partnership | 200 runs |
| Score when Malik fell | 223/3 |
| Final team total | 262/6 |
| Partnership as share of final total | 76.34% |
The partnership accounted for more than three-quarters of Pakistan’s eventual total.
This is the central statistical explanation for the first innings.
Pakistan’s late batting contributions were useful, but the match-winning foundation came from two batters who transformed a difficult start into a position of strength.
Kapil Dev’s 3/36 and Manoj Prabhakar’s 3/54 Give India Six Wickets but Little Control
India’s most successful bowlers were Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar.
Both claimed three wickets.
Kapil finished with 3/36 from ten overs, while Prabhakar took 3/54 from ten.
Their individual figures were respectable, particularly Kapil’s economy rate of 3.60.
However, the match showed why wicket tallies alone do not adequately describe a bowling performance.
India removed Pakistan’s openers cheaply but could not dismiss Zahid or Malik during the decisive rebuilding period.
Kapil eventually removed Imran Khan for 13 and Wasim Akram for three.
Prabhakar dismissed Malik for 87 and Moin Khan for five after his earlier breakthrough against Aamer Sohail.
Those later wickets prevented Pakistan from accelerating more dramatically.
Nevertheless, the absence of sustained middle-over breakthroughs allowed Pakistan to reach 262.
India’s Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manoj Prabhakar | 10 | 2 | 54 | 3 | 5.40 |
| Kapil Dev | 10 | 0 | 36 | 3 | 3.60 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 5 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 4.80 |
| Javagal Srinath | 10 | 0 | 49 | 0 | 4.90 |
| Ravi Shastri | 8 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 4.88 |
| Venkatapathy Raju | 7 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 6.43 |
Kapil was India’s most economical specialist bowler.
Prabhakar provided important wickets but conceded more runs.
The supporting bowlers failed to break the decisive partnership, and that inability allowed Pakistan to establish a total that would eventually prove beyond India’s reach.
India’s Chase Begins With Promise Before Aaqib Javed Changes Everything
India required 263 runs to win the final.
The target was challenging but achievable.
Ravi Shastri and Navjot Singh Sidhu opened the innings, attempting to establish a stable foundation against Pakistan’s fast-bowling attack.
Wasim Akram and Imran Khan began the bowling, while Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed provided further pace options.
India initially appeared capable of constructing a measured chase.
Sidhu scored 21 from 32 deliveries, including three boundaries.
Shastri made 15 from 34.
The opening stand reached 32 before Aaqib dismissed Sidhu, caught by wicketkeeper Moin Khan.
Sanjay Manjrekar then joined Shastri.
The pair advanced the total to 47.
India were still in the contest.
Then Aaqib produced the three deliveries that transformed the final.
Aaqib Javed’s Hat-Trick: Shastri, Azharuddin and Tendulkar Fall With India Stuck on 47
Aaqib Javed had already removed Sidhu.
His next decisive intervention became one of the most remarkable sequences in ODI history.
Ravi Shastri was trapped lbw for 15.
Captain Mohammad Azharuddin arrived at the crease.
Aaqib trapped him lbw for a first-ball duck.
Sachin Tendulkar walked in.
The young Indian batting sensation had already established himself as one of the country’s most promising international cricketers.
Aaqib dismissed him lbw from the next delivery.
Three consecutive balls.
Three established Indian batters.
Three lbw decisions.
India were 47/4.
The contest had changed dramatically.
Before the hat-trick, India were attempting to establish a partnership.
Afterward, Sanjay Manjrekar was left trying to rebuild with the middle and lower order exposed.
The scoreboard did not move while India lost three wickets.
That concentration of dismissals was the most important sequence of the final.
Aaqib Javed’s Hat-Trick Reconstruction
| Sequence | Batter | Dismissal | India Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| First wicket | Ravi Shastri | lbw b Aaqib Javed | 47/2 |
| Second wicket | Mohammad Azharuddin | lbw b Aaqib Javed | 47/3 |
| Third wicket | Sachin Tendulkar | lbw b Aaqib Javed | 47/4 |
The hat-trick was especially significant because all three victims were recognized members of India’s batting lineup.
Azharuddin was the captain.
Tendulkar represented India’s emerging batting future.
Shastri had the experience to stabilize a difficult chase.
Aaqib removed all three before India could add another run.
Why Aaqib Javed’s 7/37 Was So Extraordinary
Aaqib finished with 7/37 from ten overs, including one maiden.
His economy rate was just 3.70.
He dismissed seven of India’s ten batters.
His victims were Sidhu, Shastri, Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Sanjay Manjrekar and Manoj Prabhakar.
The figures were the best in ODI history at the time.
Aaqib’s performance combined early breakthroughs, a devastating hat-trick and further wickets that prevented India’s middle order from establishing a substantial recovery.
He removed two experienced opening batters.
He dismissed Azharuddin and Tendulkar without allowing either to score.
He later accounted for Manjrekar, who had made India’s highest score.
The spell was remarkable because of its sustained effectiveness across different stages of the innings.
A bowler can produce a brilliant hat-trick without controlling the remainder of a match.
Aaqib continued taking important wickets after his historic three-ball sequence.
Aaqib Javed’s Seven-Wicket Performance
| Statistic | Performance |
|---|---|
| Overs | 10 |
| Maidens | 1 |
| Runs conceded | 37 |
| Wickets | 7 |
| Economy rate | 3.70 |
| Hat-trick victims | Shastri, Azharuddin, Tendulkar |
| Share of India’s ten dismissals | 70% |
| Runs conceded per wicket | 5.29 |
| Final result | Pakistan won by 72 runs |
| Official award | Player of the Match |
Aaqib was responsible for 70% of India’s dismissals.
His seven wickets cost just 37 runs.
Those figures explain why Pakistan’s victory became associated so strongly with his performance, even though Zahid and Malik had already played critical roles in constructing the winning total.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s 52 Provides Resistance but Cannot Rescue India
Sanjay Manjrekar was India’s most substantial batter.
He scored 52 from 69 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes.
His innings became particularly important after the hat-trick.
India had lost four wickets for 47 runs, with several of its most experienced players already back in the pavilion.
Manjrekar attempted to rebuild with Vinod Kambli.
Kambli contributed 30 from 45 deliveries.
The pair helped India reach 100 before Kambli was run out.
The wicket brought further pressure.
India had lost five wickets and still required another 163 runs.
Kapil Dev provided a brief contribution of eight.
However, Aaqib bowled him before he could establish a partnership with Manjrekar.
Manjrekar continued fighting but eventually fell to Aaqib for 52.
India were 132/7.
His dismissal effectively ended the possibility of a substantial recovery.
Manjrekar’s performance was nevertheless recognized across the tournament.
He was named Player of the Series, reflecting his overall contribution rather than the final result alone.
Vinod Kambli’s 30 and Kiran More’s 26 Extend India’s Resistance
Vinod Kambli’s 30 came from 45 deliveries.
His innings provided useful support during India’s recovery from 47/4.
However, his run-out at 100/5 ended the partnership that had briefly restored some stability.
Kiran More later scored an unbeaten 26 from 35 deliveries, striking four boundaries.
He received support from Javagal Srinath, who made 14 from 34 balls, including a six.
Their contributions helped India move beyond 170.
However, the target had already become increasingly unrealistic.
Pakistan’s bowlers maintained sufficient control to prevent India from establishing another significant partnership.
Srinath eventually fell to Akram Raza.
Venkatapathy Raju was run out for two.
India were dismissed for 190.
The lower-order resistance reduced the margin but did not alter the outcome.
Wasim Akram’s 0/21 and Waqar Younis’ 0/28 Show the Strength of Pakistan’s Bowling Attack
Aaqib’s seven wickets understandably dominate the historical record.
However, Pakistan’s other fast bowlers made important contributions through sustained pressure.
Wasim Akram bowled ten overs, including three maidens, and conceded only 21 runs.
His economy rate was an exceptional 2.10.
Waqar Younis conceded 28 runs from nine overs and delivered two maidens.
Neither took a wicket.
That did not diminish their contribution.
Their economical spells ensured India had limited opportunities to counterattack while Aaqib took wickets from the other end.
Wasim and Waqar combined to concede just 49 runs from 19 overs.
Their combined economy rate was approximately 2.58.
India therefore struggled to score against two of Pakistan’s principal fast bowlers while simultaneously losing wickets to Aaqib.
Pakistan’s Fast-Bowling Combination
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaqib Javed | 10 | 1 | 37 | 7 | 3.70 |
| Wasim Akram | 10 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 2.10 |
| Waqar Younis | 9 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 3.11 |
| Combined | 29 | 6 | 86 | 7 | 2.97 |
Pakistan’s three main fast bowlers conceded only 86 runs from 29 overs.
They also delivered six maidens.
The combined figures highlight the depth of the bowling performance.
Aaqib supplied the wickets.
Wasim and Waqar supplied the sustained control that made India’s chase increasingly difficult.
This was one of Pakistan’s strongest collective pace-bowling performances of the era.
Five Turning Points That Defined the Wills Trophy Final
1. Pakistan Lose Both Openers for 23 Runs
India’s decision to field initially appeared successful.
Kapil and Prabhakar removed Sajid Ali and Aamer Sohail cheaply.
2. Zahid Fazal and Saleem Malik Add 200 Runs
The partnership transformed Pakistan’s innings.
Zahid made 98 before retiring hurt, while Malik contributed 87.
Pakistan recovered to reach 262/6.
3. Aaqib Dismisses Sidhu and Shastri
India lost both openers with only 47 runs scored.
The dismissals created the conditions for the devastating hat-trick.
4. Azharuddin and Tendulkar Fall for Golden Ducks
The two most important wickets of Aaqib’s hat-trick removed India’s captain and one of its leading young batters without either scoring.
India were 47/4.
5. Aaqib Removes Manjrekar for 52
Manjrekar represented India’s strongest remaining hope.
His dismissal at 132/7 virtually ended the chase.
Pakistan eventually completed a 72-run victory.
Why Match 68 Belongs in A Celebration of 5000 ODIs
The 1991 Wills Trophy final deserves its place because it combined a dramatic batting recovery with one of the finest bowling performances in ODI history.
Pakistan had lost two wickets for 23 runs.
India were well positioned to control the innings.
Zahid and Malik responded with a 200-run partnership that transformed the final.
Then Aaqib produced a hat-trick against India’s most important established batters.
His seven wickets for 37 runs established a new benchmark for ODI bowling.
The performance also carried historical significance within the India-Pakistan rivalry.
Sharjah had already become a venue associated with unforgettable encounters between the two teams.
Aaqib’s spell added another chapter to that history.
The final also illustrated Pakistan’s exceptional fast-bowling resources in the early 1990s.
Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were already emerging as one of international cricket’s most dangerous combinations.
Aaqib provided another outstanding option.
His performance against India demonstrated that Pakistan’s bowling strength extended beyond its two most celebrated fast bowlers.
The match belongs in the series because of its extraordinary individual brilliance, important tournament consequences and the dramatic reversal between Pakistan’s early batting struggles and India’s eventual defeat.
Readers can revisit Match 67, Wasim Akram’s hat-trick against Australia in the 1990 Austral-Asia Cup final for another example of Pakistan’s fast-bowling dominance in a major Sharjah final.
The consecutive installments provide an intriguing comparison.
Wasim completed a hat-trick against Australia’s tail in 1990.
Aaqib removed three established Indian batters in 1991.
Both performances helped Pakistan capture major tournament titles.
Pakistan vs India 1991 Wills Trophy Final: Complete Match Scorecard
Pakistan Innings: 262/6 in 50 Overs
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aamer Sohail | c Kapil Dev b Prabhakar | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 4.17 |
| Sajid Ali | c More b Kapil Dev | 10 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Zahid Fazal | Retired hurt | 98 | 119 | 8 | 1 | 82.35 |
| Saleem Malik | c Azharuddin b Prabhakar | 87 | 95 | 6 | 1 | 91.58 |
| Imran Khan (c) | c Manjrekar b Kapil Dev | 13 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 59.09 |
| Ijaz Ahmed | Not out | 16 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 123.08 |
| Wasim Akram | b Kapil Dev | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Moin Khan (wk) | c More b Prabhakar | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Akram Raza | Did not bat | |||||
| Waqar Younis | Did not bat | |||||
| Aaqib Javed | Did not bat | |||||
| Extras | 15 leg-byes, 10 wides, 4 no-balls | 29 | ||||
| Total | 6 wickets, 50 overs | 262 |
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Aamer Sohail), 2-23 (Sajid Ali), 3-223 (Saleem Malik), 4-230 (Imran Khan), 5-247 (Wasim Akram), 6-262 (Moin Khan).
Retired hurt: Zahid Fazal retired at 194/2 with cramp.
India Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manoj Prabhakar | 10 | 2 | 54 | 3 | 5.40 |
| Kapil Dev | 10 | 0 | 36 | 3 | 3.60 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 5 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 4.80 |
| Javagal Srinath | 10 | 0 | 49 | 0 | 4.90 |
| Ravi Shastri | 8 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 4.88 |
| Venkatapathy Raju | 7 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 6.43 |
India Innings: 190 All Out in 46 Overs
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravi Shastri | lbw b Aaqib Javed | 15 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 44.12 |
| Navjot Singh Sidhu | c Moin Khan b Aaqib Javed | 21 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 65.63 |
| Sanjay Manjrekar | c Waqar Younis b Aaqib Javed | 52 | 69 | 3 | 2 | 75.36 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin (c) | lbw b Aaqib Javed | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | lbw b Aaqib Javed | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Vinod Kambli | Run out | 30 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Kapil Dev | b Aaqib Javed | 8 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 72.73 |
| Manoj Prabhakar | c Aamer Sohail b Aaqib Javed | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 58.33 |
| Kiran More (wk) | Not out | 26 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 74.29 |
| Javagal Srinath | c Wasim Akram b Akram Raza | 14 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 41.18 |
| Venkatapathy Raju | Run out | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | 5 leg-byes, 8 wides, 2 no-balls | 15 | ||||
| Total | All out, 46 overs | 190 |
Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Sidhu), 2-47 (Shastri), 3-47 (Azharuddin), 4-47 (Tendulkar), 5-100 (Kambli), 6-129 (Kapil Dev), 7-132 (Manjrekar), 8-143 (Prabhakar), 9-177 (Srinath), 10-190 (Raju).
Pakistan Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasim Akram | 10 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 2.10 |
| Imran Khan | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Aaqib Javed | 10 | 1 | 37 | 7 | 3.70 |
| Waqar Younis | 9 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 3.11 |
| Akram Raza | 9 | 0 | 56 | 1 | 6.22 |
| Ijaz Ahmed | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Saleem Malik | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4.00 |
Result: Pakistan won by 72 runs.
Player of the Match: Aaqib Javed, 7/37, including a hat-trick.
Player of the Series: Sanjay Manjrekar.
Tournament consequence: Pakistan won the Wills Sharjah Trophy.The batting figures, bowling returns, dismissals and fall of wickets are supported by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s official historical scorecard and independently preserved contemporary match records.
PCB
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What Made Aaqib Javed’s 7/37 Historically Significant?
Aaqib’s seven-wicket haul was an extraordinary achievement for a young fast bowler facing India in a tournament final.
At the time, 7/37 represented the best individual bowling figures recorded in men’s ODI cricket.
His hat-trick was also unusual because all three victims were dismissed lbw.
The sequence removed Shastri, Azharuddin and Tendulkar before India could add another run.
The fact that the wickets came against India’s most experienced and promising batting talent increased the historical importance of the performance.
The figures were eventually surpassed as ODI bowling records continued evolving, but Aaqib’s 7/37 remains one of the defining spells in India-Pakistan cricket history.
His achievement also demonstrated the strength of Pakistan’s pace-bowling resources at a time when Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were already major international figures.
Aaqib added another formidable dimension to that attack.
What Happened Before the 1991 Wills Trophy Final?
India and Pakistan had already produced two contrasting results during the tournament.
India won their first meeting by 60 runs.
Pakistan responded with a narrow four-run victory in the second encounter.
Both teams eventually reached the final, with India finishing above Pakistan in the preliminary standings.
The championship match gave Pakistan an opportunity to settle the rivalry decisively.
The earlier results are significant because they demonstrate that Pakistan had not dominated India throughout the competition.
Indeed, India had already defeated Pakistan convincingly once.
However, the final took a different course.
Zahid and Malik recovered Pakistan’s innings before Aaqib’s devastating bowling left India unable to establish a competitive chase.
India vs Pakistan in the 1991 Wills Trophy
| Date | Match | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 19, 1991 | Group encounter | India | 60 runs |
| October 23, 1991 | Group encounter | Pakistan | 4 runs |
| October 25, 1991 | Final | Pakistan | 72 runs |
Historical fixture results from the preserved 1991 Wills Trophy tournament schedule.
Schedule/Results Summary
The progression provides a useful perspective.
India won the first encounter comfortably.
Pakistan edged the second.
Then Pakistan produced the tournament’s most emphatic India-Pakistan result in the final.
That reversal makes the championship match particularly worthy of historical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1991 Wills Trophy final?
Pakistan defeated India by 72 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 25, 1991.
What were Aaqib Javed’s bowling figures?
Aaqib took seven wickets for 37 runs from ten overs, including one maiden.
Who were Aaqib Javed’s hat-trick victims?
Ravi Shastri, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar. All three were dismissed lbw.
Who scored the most runs for Pakistan?
Zahid Fazal scored 98 from 119 deliveries before retiring hurt. Saleem Malik contributed 87 from 95 balls.
Why did Zahid Fazal retire hurt?
Contemporary historical records indicate that Zahid retired hurt because of cramp, leaving him two runs short of a century.
Who was India’s highest scorer?
Sanjay Manjrekar scored 52 from 69 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes.
Why was Aaqib named Player of the Match?
His exceptional 7/37 included a hat-trick and accounted for seven of India’s ten wickets, making him the decisive performer in Pakistan’s victory.
Who won Player of the Series?
India’s Sanjay Manjrekar received the award.
The Sports Encounter Verdict: Pakistan’s Batters Built the Platform, Aaqib Javed Made It Unforgettable
Pakistan’s victory over India in the 1991 Wills Trophy final remains one of the most memorable performances in the history of their ODI rivalry.
Zahid Fazal and Saleem Malik had recovered the innings after two early dismissals.
Their contributions gave Pakistan a total that India’s talented batting lineup was capable of chasing.
However, Aaqib Javed transformed the contest with a remarkable display of fast bowling.
His hat-trick removed three accomplished Indian batters in three deliveries.
His seven-wicket haul ensured India could not recover.
Meanwhile, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis restricted scoring opportunities throughout their spells.
The combination proved overwhelming.
The match was also another example of Pakistan’s remarkable strength at Sharjah during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Wasim had completed a tournament-winning hat-trick against Australia in 1990.
A year later, Aaqib produced an even more devastating spell against India.
Match 68 deserves its place in A Celebration of 5000 ODIs because it combined a remarkable batting recovery, an exceptional individual bowling performance and a famous victory against Pakistan’s greatest cricketing rival in a major tournament final.
Explore more unforgettable performances in The Sports Encounter’s A Celebration of 5000 ODIs.