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Pakistan's World Cup 2019 bears striking similarities with 1992 campaign

June 28, 2019 00:00:00


BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, June 27 (Agencies): Twenty-seven years and a generation apart, Pakistan's World Cup bears striking similarities with their 1992 campaign -- when they started slowly but ended up lifting the trophy in Melbourne.

An identical sequence of wins and losses, and other eerie parallels, have struck a chord with millions of fans who believe that Pakistan could be set to come out on top once again.

Similarities begin, credibly, with the format

In 1992, the tournament had nine teams, with everyone playing against everyone else and the top four progressing to the semi-finals. In 2019, the tournament has 10 teams, and everyone plays everyone else and the top four progress to the semi-finals.

Even the playing conditions

In 1992, the administrators decided to use two new white balls per innings, one at each end. In 2019, the teams are also playing with two new white balls per innings, one at each end.

Sequence of results

From Game 1 to the recently concluded Game 7, Pakistan's results have been exactly the same. In both World Cups, Pakistan started with a one-sided defeat to the West Indies, before recovering to win their second game -- against Zimbabwe in 1992, and England this time around.

At both tournaments, their third game was rained off and they then went on to lose their next two games and win the following two.

Not only that, but the final win in both sequences was against New Zealand, who were unbeaten in both 1992 and 2019 until they ran into Pakistan.

"It was same, the same sequence of results, points and then we wanted Australia to beat the West Indies for us to qualify," said legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram, who played for Pakistan in 1992.

"Then also we beat New Zealand -- who was unbeaten then too. A lot of similarities, I hope the end result is also similar now and we win the World Cup," said Wasim, now a TV commentator.

In-game similarities

Match 6: In 1992, Match 6 had seen a left-handed batsman Aamir Sohail being adjudged as man of the match. In 2019, Match 6 saw a left-handed batsman Haris Sohail being adjudged as man of the match.

Match 7: In 1992, Match 7 saw Rameez Raja score an unbeaten 100 and secure a win for Pakistan by 7 wickets. In 2019, Match 7 saw Babar Azam score an unbeaten 100 and secure a win for Pakistan by 6 wickets.

In 1992, India and then Australia had won the previous two World Cups. In 2019, India and then Australia have won the previous two World Cups.

Players similarities

In 1992, Pakistan had Saleem Malik and Inzamam-ul-Haq. In 2019, Pakistan have Saleem's son Shoaib Malik and Inzamam's nephew Imam-ul-Haq.

But Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed played down any parallels with 1992.

"That's history but after we won against New Zealand someone told me that even in 1992 we chased down New Zealand's target with five balls to spare," said Sarfaraz, whose team reached their 238-run target in 49.1 overs on Wednesday.

Fans are now hoping that the similarities don't end there, and even that they continue beyond the World Cup.

"Imran Khan was Pakistan captain in 1992 World Cup and 26 years after that triumph he became country's prime minister, so Sarfaraz should also join politics and become premier in 2045," said one comment on social media.


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