Afridi fell and the match was won.

Afridi's departure was the turning point. It changed the game even in 2003 World Cup India Pakistan match. It is not like he does not realize the importance of his wicket. When he comes out in the middle in such a world stage like this he takes the 'center-stage' . Everything in india and pakistan becomes secondary. His shot high into the air assumes epic proportions and it looks like as if around 2 billion hearts have been thrown into the air with uncertainty of falling safely back into the chest or breaking into pieces. The pain of breaking cannot be described i am sure. And every time he gets caught out, for only he can destroy himself. When in rhythm, he creates the performance of the year or a new record in terms of longest six or one of the fastest 100 or 50's. The prospect of which is a crowd puller, world over.

Earlier he had a dangerous addiction, more self destructing than the LSD injection. For narcotics take time to destroy. Of hitting the first ball he would be facing for a six. More often than not, he would end up throwing his wicket. He followed this even in the 2003 historic encounter. Nothing was going wrong for pakistan. The great Saeed Anwar, persuaded by Pakistani people was for once and for the last time pulled out of his renunciation and abyss to score a master craft century. Indeed he had set it up for Pakistan. Out of nowhere India came back good with a couple of wickets. Still Pakistan had afridi with them. And even then...you know what happened.

Year 2011. India-Pak WC Semi-final:

The situation was different here though. He was the captain of a fine side which had lost 5 wickets and was under intense pressure to chase the indian tally of 260. Afridi was matured enough not to toss the first ball and that is what i had primarily feared to come true. Presure got to him as they needed to score runs. Still i feel he shouldn't have played that shot. It could not possibly carry to the fence with that medium pace of the ball, and neither it came from the middle of the bat with the full power of hands not transmitting to the bat.

Afridi, the giant, the big-hearted, the talisman, the performer, the leader, the hope , the all rounder had fallen.

The crowd had broke loose. I knew india would be winning the match soon.