Pakistan strong contender for World Cup 1999 (3 May 1999)

3 May 1999

Pakistan strong contender for World Cup 1999

Arshad Chughtai

Like all other previous occasions, except in 1983, Pakistan is once again considered a strong contender for the Seventh World Cup title. After the phenomenal success in the recent Asian Test Championship, Pepsi Trination Cup in India and Coca Cola Trination Cup in Sharjah, its rating has gone up further and the country is now being hailed as a hot favourite for the coveted Cup alongwith South Africa and Australia. The contest for world crown begins at Lords from May 14th.

Pakistan's 15-man World Cup squad is regarded as balanced and formidable - surely the best that the selectors could choose to represent Pakistan in the prestigious event. Nevertheless an early setback the team has suffered, which I am sure and wish the team will overcome, is in the loss of their coach, Javed Miandad. Let us hope and pray that the Pakistan Cricket Board will somehow settle the issue and the master mind of Pakistan's 1992 victory will be persuaded to join the team in time before Pakistan takes on the West Indies on May 16th in Bristol, in their first encounter of the tournament. It has been bracketed with Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, Scotland and Bangladesh in Group B.

In the previous six tournaments, excepting the inaugural and the last World Cup, Pakistan has been the semi finalist on all occasions and the champion in 1992. During these half a dozen outings, Pakistan played 37 matches, won 21 and lost 15 with one remaining result less. Surprisingly England which is yet to win the World Cup has played the most number of matches, won (40) out of which it won 25 and lost 14. West Indies, whose performance was inconsistent in the last three Cups has won the most number of matches, 26 and they are also the only team to win the title twice in 1975 and 1979. India, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1996 respectively.

Pakistan's performance in the inaugural World Cup (1975) was admirable. It was sheer bad luck that one of the most experienced, most capable, and most qualified team for limited overs cricket of that era could not qualify amongst the last four. They had almost won their fixture against the West Indies in the league match and were well ahead of the Aussies, at one point, in the opening match of the tournament but bad luck deprived them of victory. Pakistan was rated as the third best team of the tournament after West Indies, the winners and Australia, the runners up.

Pakistan again creditably performed in the 2nd Prudential World Cup. Their semi final match against the West Indies was the best and most exciting of the tournament. Replying to West Indies score of 293 for 6 in 60 overs, Pakistan were well placed at 176 for 1 in 36 overs and seemed matching the West Indian run rate but due to tactical errors and batting indiscipline by middle order willow-welders, Pakistan lost the match. Earlier they beat Australia and Canada but lost to England in league matches.

Pakistan was somewhat lucky to qualify amongst the last four by virtue of a faster run rate than New Zealand. But their misfortune was that once again they were pitted against the strong battery of West Indies fast bowlers in the semifinal as against their own handicap since Imran Khans was unable to bowl. No wonder, Pakistan were outplayed by 8 wickets and in turn could muster only 184/8 in 60 overs.

Pakistan's chances in the tournament were very high. I still rate 1987 cup to be the best the Pakistan team ever played. They won 5 out of the 6 league matches, having beaten England, the runners up of the tournament-twice. But as fate have it, the day when it was needed the most, Australia caused the most stunning upset of the tournament beating Pakistan by 18 runs in the semi final at Lahore before a strong supporting home crowd.

After somewhat inconsistent performances in earlier league matches against the West Indies, England, India and South Africa, Pakistan recouped and displayed their true potential to outplay New Zealand in two successive matches including the semi final to ultimately reach the finals. Therefore Pakistan created history by beating England by 22 runs and became the champions to rule the World. Pakistan skipper with 3 for 49 and an invaluable knock of 33 was adjudged as the man of the match. The victory was attributed to sheer determination, Imran's leadership and dedicated team effort. The format of this tournament was changed and all the nine contestants had to play eight league matches against each other before the semi finals.

Pakistan did reasonably well to win four of the five league matches but in their crunch match against India - the quarter finals in Bangalore - they failed. Psychological pressure, indifferent batting and crowd behaviour accounted for the downfall of the potentially stronger team. Responding to a total of 287, Pakistan openers gave a flying start of 84 and they were chasing well at 231 for 5 when 4 wickets tumbled in quick succession, which sealed the fate of the match. Pakistan were without the services of skipper Wasim Akram, because of injury. The legend Javed Miandad bowed out of International cricket after this match.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)