***Pakistan Greatest Triumph
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Pakistan Day is a day of remembrance, a day to remember the sacrifices people made for this great nation, its a day to reflect on our greatest hour. So, on that note, what is Pakistan Cricket’s finest moment? It won’t take long for people to point to Melbourne in 1992!
The 1992 world Cup, that was at least my first thought. However after some more thought, it became clear to me that the 1992 world cup was not merely a triumph for the Pakistan cricket team. It was a triumph of faith, fight, and a great personal triumph for one man: Imran Khan. Without Imran, the world cup victory would almost certainly not have been possible. Thus this piece, revolves around the world cup of 1992, but also to looks at a courageous and charismatic leader, whose faith in Islam and faith in his team never wavered during the world cup. Imran was a man on mission, a mission, which should it have failed, would almost certainly have led to collapse of his dream of building a cancer hospital. This sense of mission and dream made Imran the most dangerous man on the field.
Imran Khan, showed his force of personality and his position of strength, by persuading the PCB to send Pakistan to Australia, one month before the world cup, in order for players to become accustomed to Australian conditions. The team went without, its fastest and newest sensation: Waqar Younis, who missed the tournament through injury.
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Two days before the start of the world cup, Pakistan was to suffer a setback off the field and two days later, suffered a setback on the field. Imran damaged a shoulder to put him out of the match against West Indies. He then watched his side lose by 9 wickets to the West Indies. A far from ideal start. Pakistan, though as expected, defeated Zimbabwe in the next game, with Imran in the team. However, Imran was to strain his shoulder further. Specialists told him, it would only get worse, should he continue to play. Imran used a machine that sent magnetic currents into his shoulder, in order to get onto the park, a painful exercise.
Imran, however, did not play in next match against England. Pakistan suffered the indignity of being dismissed for 74. Had the rain not come, Pakistan would surely have lost. In the next match, Imran was back, but the result the same. Pakistan, losing to arch rivals India, this time. In the match, Javed Miandad, provided the most humorous moment in the world cup, when he made fun out of Kiran More. But Sachin Tendulkar showed his immense promise, with half century, and with Kapil, saw India home The odds of victory in the world cup for Pakistan were lengthening.
They lengthened further when Pakistan was beaten by South Africa in match remembered for Jonty Rhodes wonderful fielding effort to run pout Inzamam. Thus after five matches Pakistan had one victory. Times were desperate, and something special was needed. It was Imran Khan’s amazing belief, combined with inspiration, that was to, in part, turn Pakistan’s fortunes around. Imran began wearing a Cornered tiger t-shirt. In the dressing room, before the Australian game, Imran uttered the now famous “cornered tigers” speech. “You’ve got nowhere to go, go out and fight” And Fight they did. They defended successfully, 220 against Australia, with Sohail, whom Imran did want in the squad initially, once again scoring runs. Aaqib Javed then bowled well, to guide Pakistan to victory. Pakistan then overcame Sri Lanka, with Miandad and Malik, notching up half centuries.
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Pakistan then faced a must win situation against New Zealand, a team undefeated, under the excellent leadership of Martin Crowe. Mushtaq Ahmed bowled wonderfully, and Wasim superbly to restrict New Zealand to 162. Playing Mushtaq was typical of Imran’s way of thinking, i.e. positive. Whilst many teams concentrated on containment, Imran wanted wickets, so he played Mushtaq as an attacking bowler. He also told Wasim to get wickets and disregard no balls and wides. It gave Wasim the licence and took some pressure off him, and once again reconfirmed Imran’s positive way of thinking. Ramiz batted well, to see Pakistan to a win in a crunch game.
A nervous wait, ensued, as they now required the Aussies to beat West Indies to get though to the semi- final. The, Australians won, and Pakistan all of a sudden, were in a semi-final match. Two pieces of major luck assisted Pakistan: the rain that interrupted the Pakistan-England match and the victory of the Australians over the West Indies. Imran has always thought Pakistan would win the world cup, he now thought God was on his side.
The semi-final saw New Zealand reach 264, with a wonderful 91 from Martin Crowe. But Martin Crowe, injured himself and was unable to captain on the field, a big blow, since his captaincy had been excellent in the tournament. But it seemed irrelevant with Pakistan needing an unlikely 123 from 90 balls. Inzamam then played an innings, which would shatter the dreams of New Zealand. Young men fear failure much less than older men, and that appeared to be the case with Inzy. 60 of 37 balls, with Javed masterfully working the ball into the gaps saw Pakistan close to victory. Moin Khan ensured it, with a huge six over long off and a pull for four. Pakistan had once again comeback against the odds.
Pakistan has the momentum and the belief for the final, where they faced England. Pakistan began slowly, 139 in 31 overs. But they had wickets in hand. Imran by batting slowly was hoping for Wasim and Inzy to provide the needed acceleration. Imran was dismissed on 72, but had Gooch hung on to an earlier, difficult chance offered by Imran when he was on nine, the result may have been different. In the last six overs Pakistan scored 52. When Wasim hit a four early in his innings, Ian Chappell said words to the effect that if Wasim gets on a roll, he may carry it through with his bowling and then England would be in trouble. Not for the first time, Chappell was shown to be correct. Wasim was key to victory.
Wasim dismissed Botham early, Mushtaq deceived Hick with a googly, and then dismissed an out of form Gooch with Aaqib Javed taking a brilliant catch at fine leg. Pakistan were on top. Fairborther and Lamb, threatened to change it, with 72 added in 14 overs. Imran recalled Wasim to the bowing crease..Wasim Akram around the wicket wide on the crease bowled a delivery, which pitched just outside off stump and straightened, to incredibly disturb the off stump. Lamb could not believe it; he had just received the best delivery of the tournament. A booming inswinger was enough to see Lewis dismissed, the very next ball, and Pakistan were now firmly in pole position. Imran fittingly obtained the last wicket when Illingworth hit to mid off. Wild celebration on the field and in the homes of Pakistanis commenced. Pakistanis stood united.
The five weeks of the world Cup were as the Cricketer put it “of contrivance, of excitement, of plausibility; of despair, of self-sacrifice, of the very good and the fourth rate, of the accomplished and the crude.”
For Imran it was case of a vision coming true and an obsession being realised: he could now build his hospital. He had instilled in his team a fighting spirit deriving from belief. Imran’s belief that God was on his side, that Pakistan were sure to win, even when in deep trouble, was awesome. That is why; it was not just a victory for the Pakistan cricket team. It really was victory of faith, fighting spirit, courage and personal victory for Imran.
In 1947, a great leader, Mr. Jinnah, saw his aim fulfilled: creation of Pakistan. In 1992, another great leader, in a different field, saw his goal becoming reality
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