#360debate: Can Pakistan repeat 1992 World Cup win?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Smiles are back: Pakistan have injected fresh purpose in their World Cup campaign by winning three back-to-back games after suffering two heavy defeats.

    Misbah-ul Haq's men have ignited a spark with their emphatic victory over South Africa which now puts them in contention to secure a quarter-final place at the Cricket World Cup.

    – VIDEO: Highlights as NZ stormed to a fifth World Cup win
    – VIDEO: Highlights from Australia's CWC victory over Sri Lanka

    With that in mind, today's point of debate is: Can Pakistan repeat '92?

    Ajit Vijaykumar, Assisant News Editor, says YES

    No one gave Pakistan a chance after their defeat against India at the start of the World Cup. Things went from bad to worse when the West Indies thrashed them by 150 runs. They were made to sweat for a win against Zimbabwe and only a comfortable victory over the UAE gave their confidence a boost.

    The match against South Africa was supposed to be a one-sided affair with the Proteas superior in every aspect, be it batting, bowling, fielding or leadership.

    But on match day, the Pakistanis turned every prediction on its head and came up with a clinical performance to edge past South Africa. Their top order looked in reasonable nick and once they had a total of 200 plus on the board, their fast bowlers charged in and broke the Protea batting line-up with sheer force.

    While it’s true that one win on its own doesn’t guarantee a change in fortunes, Pakistan have made it a habit of turning things around at precisely such moments.

    Misbah-ul Haq (L) and Younnis Khan (R).

    Pakistan fans are clinging on to hopes of a 1992-esque turnaround. In that World Cup, the men in green won just one match from their first five games, scraped through to the semi-finals on net run rate and from there it was a simple matter of two wins to lift the trophy.

    This edition has the additional quarter-final stage, but the template is more or less the same. Just get through the group stage and play well for three days to take home the 50-over title.

    Pakistan must surely be confident of their chances. Their clash against South Africa was not a knockout game, which means the blame couldn’t be put on the Proteas’ habit of choking in crunch matches. They beat a superior side fair and square, which means a lot.

    What also works in Pakistan’s favour is that their worst performances seem to be behind them. They look like a side that can only get better once a few factors start going their way every now and then, especially in batting. In a World Cup, anything is possible and self-belief can carry teams a long way. With the wind beneath their wings, Misbah-ul Haq’s boys look good to go all the way. This is the Pakistan we had been waiting for. 

    Jaideep Marar, Assistant Editor, says NO

    There is no doubt that Pakistan’s confidence levels would have improved immensely after the victory against South Africa. But to expect them to go all the way and win the World Cup is fanciful to say the least.

    Their biggest impediment to success is their failure to dish out consistent displays. You are not sure which Pakistan team is going to turn up, a group of talented cricketers or a bunch of no-hopers. And to everybody’s frustration it is the latter that often makes an appearance.

    Apart from this World Cup, Misbah-ul Haq’s men have won three one-day internationals in a row only once in the last three years – during the 2014 Asia Cup. In that period they have won 61 games and lost 60, which is another indicator of the unpredictable nature of the team.

    Batting and fielding continue to be the grey areas and it doesn’t inspire much confidence to back them all the way.

    In the seven matches they have played this year, Pakistan have crossed the 250- run mark only once, and that was against the UAE when they scored 339.

    Their bowling attack is undoubtedly their best weapon but as India and the West Indies batsmen proved in their earlier games, they can be tamed with a calculated assault.

    Once the bowling is taken care of there is nothing to fall back upon for the team. They are still struggling to put together a strong opening. In the five games they have played so far, their best opening partnership has been 30.

    Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed’s inclusion as an opener was long overdue and had it not been for his enterprise at the top, Pakistan would have really struggled to dominate South Africa. The middleorder is still dependent on Misbah to stop it from crumbling.

    Lastly, there are very few game-changers in the squad which Imran Khan’s 1992 champions had. Shahid Afridi is probably the only one but he hasn’t fired at all in the World Cup.

    A one-off brilliant display, like they managed against South Africa, is on expected lines, but to hope that they can do that consistently against quality teams is foolhardy. Pakistan, may make the quarterfinal cut, but winning the World Cup remains a distant dream.

    Recommended