(Lehraati Zulfein :D)Rameez draws parallels between 1992 and current squad
From Waheed Khan
COLOMBO: Former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja has highlighted the 14th anniversary of Pakistan’s historic 1992 World Cup victory by noticing the same traits of unity and fighting spirit in the present team that were the hallmark of the 1992 squad.
Rameez was a member of the team that beat England in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 25 to create history. Present captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is the only other surviving member of that team playing now.
“The basis for our outstanding win in that tournament was the unity and harmony in the team. The never-say-die spirit cultivated so well by Imran. I see that same sort of spirit and unity in this present outfit. I consider them serious contenders for next year’s World Cup,” Rameez said here on Saturday.
“The other common thing in this team with the 1992 outfit is the absolute control of the captain and the respect the players for him and his stature as a player,” he noted. Rameez had no doubt that the 1992 win had turned around the fate of Pakistan cricket and put it back on the international cricket map with a bang.
“We had a very bad start to the tournament but the strong leadership of Imran and the experience and dogged fighting spirit of Javed Miandad inspired us all to go on and win the final. It was a day I will never forget in my life.”
Rameez said unfortunately since 1992, Pakistan cricket hadn’t leapt forward as it should have. "We really didn’t build on that success. We came close to winning the 1999 final in England but we couldn’t at the final step. Inzamam, who played a brilliant match winning innings in the semifinal against New Zealand when all appeared lost and also a spirited cameo in the final, said he had told his players to take inspiration for the win 14 years back.
"It was such a long time back. But it is one of the great moments in our cricket history. The 1992 win is still a memorable factor for many of our players.
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
Moreover, fielding would (and should) be also placed at the top of the list as one of the immediate priorities, alongwith the make-shift opening combinations that have been tried and tested in recent memory.
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
Pakistan are a great batting and bowling side but their fielding is dismal to say the least. The other day while watching the PAK-SL match, I felt that the body-language of most Pakistani fielders seemed as if they were members of the Veterans team.
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
I am not "challang-marrring" so early in the pool, how the teams shape up before the world cup will actually tell you who will be the champion.
nice spin given by Waheed Khan or Ramiz Raja by saying "draws parallels" its just a mere comparison again. which is not a good thing, and I remember same was done with 1999 team.
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
*Tukkeybaazi *is rampant in One Day Games...Besides Australia - I think the WC is up for grabs. And even Australia can be defeated by BD on a given day - as we recently found out.
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
Hahah you guys are absolutely kidding yourselves. After ur performances against India in the odis and the constant changings of your batting lineups i rate Pakistan an outside chance with New Zealand. The four main competitors are Australia, England, India and South Africa. Of course this guy was gonna say that he is a former Pakistani captain. I do not classify Pakistan to be in the top four contenders but if they use Shoaib Akhtar and Afridi more along with good captaincy they could easily be. But realistically they are not!!!
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
I dont agree with you aussiecricket. :DI do think that pak has a good chance of winning the next WC. I think the main compitition will be between Pakistan, India, South Africa, and Australia (but i dont think Aus will win this one).
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
I think Pakistani cricket has come a long way from its slums of late 90s period but it still isnt enough to grab the world title. Thats becuase of the inconsistency of their performance and due to a diminshing fighting spirit as they approach their goal. Just look back to the last Pak-SL ODI. Pak was easily winning and then suddenly3-4 batsmen got out in about 5 overs. Thats because they started going easy before taking the win. I seriously thought we might lose the match. Fortunately, we had cool headed players like Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal, and made to the win. If Pakistan keeps playing like that then they will end up losing to a calmer team, like India or England, before they even get to Australia. Oh and just for you aussiecrickter, Aus was the same when they lost to Bangladesh. So I think Pak and Aus are pretty much even. :D
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
I agree with Ramiz comments there.
If not all many things are getting sorted out. For example captaincy, then wicket keeper and also the middle order and fast bowling.
The main problem is opening, which I am sure is not a serious problem.
With Inzi, Yousaf, Younis, Afridi, Akmal, Malik and Razzak permently there it makes a good combination. With others like Rana, Asif, Butt and etc things are not bad.
Not to forget Shoaib, if there in WI will certainly be a big boost.
All in all good combination and a good chance of winning the coming world provide some dont try to topple Inzi with will be a disaster.
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
The biggest difference between the two Pakistani teams is Captaincy! One was aggressive, agile captain the current one is .... ya'll know. If talent was anything to go by then 1999 WC should've been ours.
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
world cup is just a few games here and there where anything can happen.Its not like english premier league or major league baseball where the best team usually wins because there are a lot of games played.Anything can happen in a few one day internationals as we saw a team like Kenya made it to the semis in the last world cup.So you can't really count anyone out.Australia is not going to be as favorite as they were for the last world cup.I think south africa,India and Pakistan can challenge Australia simply becausee their bowling looks very thin these days and these teams have the firepower to put them to the sword.
As for Srilanka,Newzealand and West Indies...I think they will struggle because their batting is a bit poor now..Srilanka is not the team it used to bee with jaysurya struggling and no hitters coming down the order.
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
Pakistan beat England in the odis in Pakistan..and they are definitely better than Newzealand if not India in one dayers.Pakistan beat india in india last year in one dayers thats just the way one day cricket goes.So I would say along with Australia....Pakistan,India,South Africa and England have a good chance..but England's batting has to improve
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
Regarding the "captaincy is getting sorted out":
How is Inzamam's captaincy any different with what he first started out with (the lazy indolence, utter idleness and heavy sluggishness that he repeatedly throws himself in, on a daily basis)?
As elaborated below -
Furthermore, as mentioned by Desidudecool above, bringing World Cup home will matter a great deal on a handful of games that Pakistan (or any team for that matter) will play, and the most important thing going into the competition is the aggressive technique and mindset of a captain, and that of a team. The latter can be sorted out depending on the location of the moon and stars in the geographical orbit (see below):
But quite simply, with the way things are heading from the looks of it, it is directly because of individual efforts of team members that we have won a large amount of series whether that be at home or away in foreign soil, and not because of us changing with the dynamics of the game (and rather stepping into the field with a pre-planned theory, having written down the next day's plans on a piece of paper the night before).
Re: "I consider Pakistan serious contenders for next year’s World Cup" - Rameez Raja
wats more important ... team unity or super-strategical captain?
Ramiz has been there , he knows what he is talking about when he talks about the unity in the dressing room... For all of you who have played cricket for a league or an organized team, lets ponder for a few secs.... What would you rather have; a united team who is enjoying its cricket, or a team with an agressive captain which is divided and only worried abt individual performances. In 2003, i thought we had an excellent team on paper... but look what happened.... disaster, to say the least. We can't have another Imran (atleast we can't develop one b4 this WC), so Inzi should be the guy as he is most respected and gets things done well off the field.
I believe we have a great chance along with Aus, IND, SAF & ENG. Lets see if we can sort out the batting order and fielding by the WC.
