‘This is for you’: Babar Azam dedicates the win to Pakistani fans

Pakistani captain Babar Azam has dedicated the historic win against India to his fans.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓. 𝐀. 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 🔥#T20WorldCup | #INDvPAK | https://t.co/UqPKN2ouME pic.twitter.com/CcKEZ9crdb

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 24, 2021

Taking to Twitter, he shared pictures of the winning moments and wrote: “This is for you, Pakistan. History made. All eyes on the next game, In Sha Allah #PakistanZindabad.”

This is for you, Pakistan.
History made. All eyes on the next game, in sha Allah. #PakistanZindabad 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/Hsf5eUBhtD

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) October 24, 2021

Babar and Mohammad Rizwan’s 152-run partnership for Pakistan was not just a match-winning stand, but also the biggest opening partnership in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup and Pakistan’s second-biggest partnership in a T20I for any wicket.

Azam and Rizwan’s combined efforts overtook Chris Gayle and Devon Smith’s 145 against South Africa in 2007 as the top opening stand in Men’s T20 World Cups.

A record-breaking night for #Pakistan’s opening pair 🇵🇰

More on their #T20WorldCup feat 👉 https://t.co/SFFhUdR7FT pic.twitter.com/erY6tYbToP

— ICC (@ICC) October 25, 2021

Speaking after the match, Azam explained how he and his partner approached the record run-chase.

“The plan with Rizwan is always to keep it simple,” he said. “We tried to get deep in the crease and from about the eighth over the dew came in and the ball came on nicely.

“This is just the start, we have confidence to build on now. It will remain match by match for us.

“The pressure on us wasn’t that much – we weren’t thinking of the record against India at all. I only wanted to back all our players who’ve been preparing well.”

Meanwhile, Azam and Rizwan’s 152 is the second biggest partnership for any wicket in Men’s T20 World Cup history, 14 runs shy of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene’s extraordinary 166 against West Indies in 2010.

The partnership is also the biggest for any wicket in a T20I against India, and consigned India to their first-ever ten-wicket defeat in T20s.

Shaheen Shah Afridi also bagged three big Indian wickets on a big night. For his performance with the ball, Afridi got Player of the Match award.

#Pakistan quick Shaheen Afridi is a proven performer in the Powerplay.

Odds are India won’t be the only team to struggle against the left-armer at the #T20WorldCuphttps://t.co/6pdKTaDnBe

— ICC (@ICC) October 25, 2021

Other team members also took to the social media to express their happiness:

Allahumduillah Allahumduillah Allahumduillah 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/qYWImQrCSe

— Hassan Ali 🇵🇰 (@RealHa55an) October 24, 2021

This is what we play for….#just a beginning… #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/91Gjxeff6J

— Imad Wasim (@simadwasim) October 24, 2021

– PAKISTAN ZINDABAD ♥️ pic.twitter.com/mwaEQ04SU0

— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) October 24, 2021

Alham du Lillah 🤲🏼 Historic victory for the ppl of Pakistan 🇵🇰 & fans of Pakistan cricket around the world. Way to go boys 🏆 In Shaa Allah pic.twitter.com/IUB3abYtmq

— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) October 24, 2021

Secured the historic win against rival India. It was a high pressure, nerve-rattling and thrilling game of cricket, but team green kept passion and spirit high to chase the target quite easily. @babarazam258 @iMRizwanPak played a brilliant knock.Shaheen was so phenomenal. 🇵🇰❤️ pic.twitter.com/GvoYs4RkGQ

— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) October 25, 2021

Allah ka shukar hai Pakistan zindabad 🇵🇰🤲 pic.twitter.com/CFZCKXeqG1

— Sarfaraz Ahmed (@SarfarazA_54) October 24, 2021

Humbled, Alhumdulillah. This MoM was not possible without the love and support of my fans and family. Special shout to my ami ji, Abu ji and brothers for their selfless prayers and trust.

Yaqeen rakhna hai Pakistan. #TheEagle #PAKvIND #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/1wOh0kdWU6

— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) October 24, 2021

Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is in Saudi Arabia, was also watching the match and later took to Twitter to share the picture and congratulated Pakistan for this historic win.

Congratulations to the Pakistan Team & esp to Babar Azam who led from the front, as well as to the brilliant performances of Rizwan & Shaheen Afridi. The nation is proud of you all. pic.twitter.com/ygoOVTu37l

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 24, 2021

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Qamar Javed Bajwa also congratulated the team for the “outstanding performance and comprehensive win against India.”

COAS congratulates Pakistan Cricket Team for outstanding performance and comprehensive win against India in ICC T 20 World Cup Match. “Pakistan Cricket Team has made us all proud”
COAS.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) October 24, 2021

Beating India by 10 wickets, Pakistan is eyeing its next victory in the match against New Zealand on Tuesday.