10 most heartbreaking moments in World Cup history

#9 England vs Pakistan, 12th Match, World Cup 1979

In the final group stage game of the 1979 World Cup, Asif Iqbal, Pakistan’s captain, led from the front as he dished out a superb all-round performance versus England. However, Pakistan narrowly lost the game by 14 runs. Had Pakistan won this game, they would have topped their group and would have avoided the mighty West Indies in the semi-finals, a team they lost to eventually. Looking at the bigger picture, Pakistan’s defeat in this game had a significant bearing on their entire campaign.

In a bid to utilise the seaming conditions at Headingley, Asif Iqbal won the toss and elected to bowl. The Pakistan bowlers vindicated the faith their captain had placed in them as they kept taking wickets at regular intervals and never really allowed a partnership to develop. Asif led by example as he himself picked up 2 wickets and gave away just 37 runs in 12 overs. In their 60 overs, the Poms huffed and puffed their way to 165/9.

Pakistan were rattled early by a fiery spell of bowling from Mike Hendrick, Bob Willis and Ian Botham as they were reduced to 34/6. At this stage, it seemed as if all was lost for the visitors. However, Asif Iqbal was not done yet as he staged a fightback in the company of the tailenders. He added 52 runs for the 7th wicket with Wasim Raja. When Raja got out, Imran Khan stood by Iqbal to notch up a 29-run partnership for the 8^th wicket. Bob Willis finally got the better of the Pakistan skipper to put England in the driver’s seat once again.

Imran Khan, inspired by his captain’s inning, fought back and took the team to the cusp of a famous victory as he, along with Wasim Bari, put together 30 runs for the ninth wicket. With 2 wickets in hand and 20 runs needed for Pakistan, England opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott took the ball in his hands and broke the partnership by taking Bari’s wicket to set up a tense finish. He was not done, however, as Pakistan’s last batsman Sikander Bakht also fell victim to Boycott as England won the game by 14 runs to top their group and avoid a clash with defending and eventual World Cup winners West Indies in the semis.