Sharjah: Tauseef Ahmad, who was the non-striker when Javed Miandad hit the last ball six at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on April 18, 1986, is the assistant coach of the Islamabad United team.
After Islamabad beat Multan Sultans on Tuesday night to qualify for Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) play off, it was celebration time for his team.
For Tauseef, such victory merriments are not new. But one celebration that he will never forget is the one at this venue 32 years ago when Miandad hit the six to steer Pakistan to a one wicket win over India in the Austral-Asia Cup final.
It was the quick single from Tauseef that gave Miandad the strike to produce one of the most thrilling finishes in One Day cricket.
“It is a honour that I was the non-striker when Miandad hit that six. It is a good memory and the celebration that followed after we lifted the trophy.
"Miandad and I were mobbed by fans when we ran back into the pavilion. Every year after that incident, I come here and visit the stadium to relive that moment. This is my favourite ground.”
I feel happy
Pointing towards the area where Miandad hit the six, he said: “Every time I look at that area to where the six was hit, I feel happy.”
Tauseef then went on to express the impact of that victorious moment. “Whenever I have entered this stadium I feel the roar of the crowd as if that great victory happened recently,” remarked the 59-year-old Tauseef.
Miandad in his autobiography ‘Cutting Edge’ credits Tauseef. “We had won, Pakistan had won, Tauseef had won, I had won. What a match! It is one of the best memories of my life,” writes Miandad.
Tauseef, who is one of Pakistan’s finest off spinners, even lived in UAE as the coach of the Emirates Cricket Training (ECT) for a few years.
In 2004, at the age of 46, he cracked a century in UAE’s domestic cricket during Dubai Cricket Council Summer Cup and told Gulf News then why he remained a No.10 batsman.
“I never got the chance to improve my batting while playing international cricket. All that was expected of me was to bowl off-spin and take wickets. I batted at No. 10 for Pakistan and even at the nets I was never asked to bat. Hence it is a great feeling that at this age I could get a century.”
Tauseef is hoping to be part of another celebration on March 25 when the PSL final will be held in Karachi.
“We hope we make it to the final and win the title for the second time. It is honour to be part of this team from the first edition when we won the trophy.
"Our support staff members are excellent and with Dean Jones as head coach and I hope our players can do it again.”
