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Legendary Pakistan batter Younis Khan praised India Champions after their victory in the final match of the World Championship of Legends 2024. India Champions clinched the inaugural title by defeating Pakistan Champions in a closely contested match by 5 wickets.
Pakistan displayed strong performances throughout the tournament, securing second place on the points table with 4 wins and 1 defeat. They overcame a formidable West Indies side in the semi-finals to advance to the final.
In contrast, India faced challenges in the group stage with 2 wins and 3 defeats out of five matches. However, under the leadership of Yuvraj Singh, they elevated their game in the crucial stages. They triumphed over Australia in the semi-finals and delivered a commanding performance against Pakistan in the final to lift the trophy.
Younis Khan praises India following Pakistan’s loss in the WCL 2024 final.
Younis Khan, the captain of Pakistan Champions, commended the Indian team following the match. He extended his congratulations to India Champions, acknowledging their superior performance across all aspects of the game.
“Congratulations to India, they played like legends. They were spot-on in all three departments. We planned to put up a total on the board but having partnerships is mandatory in the final. India made some partnerships which helped them to chase down the total. We couldn’t replicate our batting performance of the semi-finals where we stitched some partnerships,” Younis said.
Pakistan’s batting lineup showcased exceptional form throughout the tournament but faltered in the final on a sluggish pitch. Sharjeel Khan fell victim to a meticulously executed strategy by Anureet Singh, while Kamran Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood failed to sustain their promising performances in this crucial match.
Younis also lauded his team for playing excellent cricket throughout the tournament. “There was some outstanding cricket played throughout the tournament. Before coming here, I had different expectations, but I’m proud of the effort from our team,” he stated.
India Champions outplayed Pakistan Champions to secure the WCL 2024 title.
Pakistan Champions won the toss and opted to bat first. Despite their openers, Sharjeel Khan and Kamran Akmal, who had been consistent throughout the tournament, failing to make an impact, Sohaib Maqsood attempted to counter-attack but couldn’t build a substantial innings.
Shoaib Malik played a courageous innings of 41 off 36 deliveries, and Sohail Tanvir contributed a rapid 19 off just 9 balls, guiding Pakistan to a total of 156-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Anureet Singh starred for India, claiming 3 wickets for 43 runs to dismantle Pakistan’s strong batting lineup.
In pursuit of a modest target of 157, India started strongly, although they lost Robin Uthappa early in their innings while attempting to accelerate the scoring. However, Ambati Rayudu anchored the chase with a composed half-century. After Rayudu’s dismissal, skipper Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan utilized their experience to steer India closer to victory.
Yusuf Pathan played a crucial cameo, smashing 30 runs off just 16 balls, featuring 1 four and 3 sixes. Although Yusuf was eventually dismissed, Irfan Pathan sealed the win with a boundary, securing the trophy for India Champions.
