Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Amir recall iconic Champions Trophy 2017 win

The Desert Vipers’ latest season of Straight Up with Vipers kicked off with an engaging episode featuring Pakistani cricket stars Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir. The duo reflected on their unforgettable performances in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, particularly the final against India, which secured Pakistan's historic win.

Fakhar Zaman, who played a crucial role in the final, reminisced about his game-changing century. His knock of 114 runs came after a lucky escape when he was dismissed off a no-ball early in his innings. Reflecting on the moment, Fakhar revealed that he had jokingly wished for such luck before the match, which later turned into reality.

“When I said that, it was just a casual comment during a conversation with my teammates. No one really took it seriously. But when it actually happened, everyone started saying I had seen it in my dreams!” he laughed.

His stellar performance propelled Pakistan to a massive total of 338, laying the foundation for a famous victory.

Mohammad Amir played an equally vital role, delivering one of the most memorable spells in Pakistan’s cricket history. The left-arm pacer dismantled India’s top order by dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shikhar Dhawan in quick succession.

“Honestly, that pitch wasn’t swinging much. Even in the morning, there wasn’t a lot of movement,” Amir said. “But I had this feeling that something special was going to happen. When I got Rohit out first, the energy just kept building,” he added. 

Amir recalled that when Virat Kohli fell, he was almost certain that Pakistan had secured the match.

“The moment Kohli got out, I thought, ‘We’ve won 60% of the game.’ It was a surreal feeling.” he remarked. 

After lifting the trophy, both players were overwhelmed by the celebrations back home. Fakhar recalled struggling to exit the airport due to the massive crowds, while Amir described the joyous scenes in the streets of Karachi.

“I didn’t realize the magnitude of what we had achieved until we landed in Pakistan. People came from all over to celebrate with us,” said Fakhar.

The Champions Trophy 2017 remains one of Pakistan’s greatest cricketing achievements, and both Amir and Fakhar cherish their contributions to the historic win.