On May 5, 1990, former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram led his team to victory, clinching the championship title with a remarkable hat-trick. His exceptional performance transformed the game entirely.
In a match held in Sharjah, Akram achieved his second career hat-trick during the final of the 1990 Austral-Asia Cup. This legendary fast bowler struck out three Australian batsmen with three consecutive deliveries, playing a crucial role in securing the championship for Pakistan.
As Pakistan defended a target of 230 runs, Akram showcased his extraordinary bowling skills in the final stages of the innings. He effectively utilized reverse swing to dismiss key Australian players, ensuring Pakistan’s triumph by 36 runs. In the 46th over, he took down Mark Hughes, Carl Rackemann, and Terry Alderman, sealing the match.
Although Australia’s Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh contributed with half-centuries, Pakistan’s bowlers restricted the Australian team to just 230 runs, with Akram claiming the final wickets. Additionally, he made a significant impact with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 49 runs off 35 balls, which included one four and three sixes. Ultimately, Pakistan emerged victorious by 36 runs, becoming champions of the 1990 Austral-Asia Cup.
While the victory was significant, the match is particularly remembered for Wasim’s hat-trick, which concluded the game. Notably, this was the second time within six months that Akram achieved a hat-trick for Pakistan; his first occurred during the 1989–1990 Sharjah Cup against the West Indies, where he dismissed Jeffri Dujon, Malcolm Marshall, and Curtly Ambrose, leading his team to an 11-run win.
