Road filled with injuries
The Pakistan began their 1992 World Cup journey with a young team plagued with injuries. The men in green travelled to Australia without their star right-arm seamer, Waqar Younis, known at the time for his in-swinging yorkers. The pillar of the Pakistani batting, Javed Miandad, was suffering from a back injury while skipper Imran Khan had an injury to his right shoulder.
When the team arrived in Australia and started playing their practice matches, it became evident that having a successful tournament would be an uphill task.
Match 1: Pakistan vs West Indies
Pakistan took on West Indies in the first match played on 23 February 1992. Imran Khan did not play in this match due to an injury and Javed Miandad led the team. Batting first, Pakistan scored 220 runs for the loss of two wickets which, for that time, was a respectable total. However, the West Indies openers Brian Lara and Desmond Haynes were able to lead their team to victory with ease.
The highlights for Pakistan was the batting of out-of-form opener Ramiz Raja, who scored a century, and Javed Miandad, who scored 57 runs from just 61 balls. During the innings, Miandad hit five fours playing the leg glance, an improvisational shot still associated with him till this day.
Pakistan vs West Indies highlights
Following the loss, the team drew criticism over their performance and the void left by Waqar Younis’ absence was apparent. The responsibility of the bowling rested on the shoulders of Wasim Akram, Aqib Javed, and Mushtaq Ahmed, as Imran Khan was in the twilight of his career.
Match 2: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
Pakistan played their second match of the tournament vs Zimbabwe on 27 February. Batting first, Pakistan scored 254 with brilliant performances by Aamer Sohail and Javed Miandad.
Pakistan vs Zimbabwe highlights
Sohail, the left-handed opener, scored 114 off 136 balls, while Miandad scored 89 off 94 deliveries. The Pakistani bowling restricted Zimbabwe to 201 runs, with Wasim Akram picking up three wickets.
Match 3: Pakistan vs England
Pakistan were all set to face England on 1 March 1992. England were not only the tournament’s favourites, they also had a star-studded lineup of experienced and talented players, which included captain Graham Gooch, Ian Botham, Allan Lamb, Graeme Hick, Alec Stewart, Robin Smith and Neil Fairbrother. This formidable side made it challenging for any team to even put up a good fight, let alone beat them.
The Adelaide weather was overcast that day and the wicket was helping seamers. Pakistan was once again captained by Miandad, who, unfortunately, lost the toss. English pacers Derek Pringle, Phil DeFreitas, Gladstone Small, and Ian Botham ended Pakistan’s innings at 74, as the Pakistani batting crumbled when confronted by England’s powerful bowling.
Alec Stewart takes a catch in the match against Pakistan – Getty Images
The target of 75 was child’s play for England. But that’s where the game of cricket can amaze you. Back in those days, there was no Duckworth -Lewis rule; instead, there was a rule dubbed as ‘rain rule’ which made it almost impossible for the team batting second during the rain to win the game.
Fast forward to New Zealand vs South Africa 1992 World Cup semifinal… South Africa needed 22 off 13 balls to record a historic win at the Sydney Cricket Ground – it was the Proteas chance for a shot at the World Cup trophy after being deprived of cricket for 21 years. England was on the verge of getting knocked out of the Cup, but lo and behold! The rain came out of nowhere and washed out South Africa’s hopes by taking away two overs from the game. South Africa was left short of 22 runs with just one ball remaining, and they failed to make it to the final.
Pakistan vs England highlights
This brutal rule, however, proved to be an angel of mercy for Pakistan against England in Adelaide. The game was interrupted several times by rain. As the rain intensified, England’s overs kept reducing to the point where England was left needing 64 runs off 16 overs. When the rain had started England were at 24-1 off 8 overs. But the game had now changed.
England could very well have lost the game at this point, but rain poured down harder and the match was cancelled. Both the teams were given a point each. This point took Pakistan all the way to the semifinal.
Match 4: Pakistan vs India
On 4 March, Pakistan played their match against arch-rival India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This was the first time the teams faced each other in the World Cup and the match drew thousands of supporters from both sides.
Sachin Tendulkar drives through the offside – Getty Images
This match held great importance for the teams as, until this point, both had been struggling in the tournament.
Batting first, India scored 216 with an 18-year-old Sachin Tendulkar scoring 54 off just 62 deliveries. Leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, taking three wickets for 20 runs.
Chasing a relatively easy target, Aamer Sohail and Javed Miandad put together a strong partnership and it seemed like Pakistan would pull through for the win. However, after losing Aamer Sohail (62), the wickets continued to fall for Pakistan at regular intervals and the entire team was out on 173.
Javed Miandad acrobatically imitates the over-enthusiastic Kiran More – Getty Images
While Pakistani fans would not want to remember this match, it did have a memorable moment between Javed Miandad and Indian wicket-keeper Kiran More. Miandad during the match mimicked More’s animated appeals in the middle of the cricket pitch.
Pakistan vs India highlights
With this loss, Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-final of the tournament seemed almost impossible.
Match 5: Pakistan vs South Africa
A visibly tired, the Pakistani side took on South Africa on 8 March in Brisbane. Making their return to international cricket after over two decades, South Africa had quickly become the favourites of the tournament. The South Africans had demonstrated their strength in all aspects of the game.
The odds were stacked against Pakistan with players such as Javed Miandad and Ramiz Raja out of the playing XI due to injury. Wasim Akram had also been unable to find his rhythm and, till this point, had bowled 27 no-balls. With several injuries plaguing players, it was becoming difficult for Pakistan to put 11 players on the field. Team morale was also low leading up to this match.
Batting first, South Africa scored 211 runs with opener Andrew Hudson scoring 54 and Hansie Cronje chipping in with 47. For Pakistan, Wasim Akram and skipper Imran Khan claimed two wickets each.
Pakistan vs South Africa highlights
The target was not an impossible one for Pakistan, but luck wasn’t on the team’s side. Pakistan were 74/2 after 21.3 overs when rain struck and due to the ‘rain rule’, a revised target of 194 in 34 overs was set. On a positive note, the match served as Inzamam’s coming out party as the batsman scored 48 off 44 deliveries and demonstrated that he was capable of making Pakistan win the World Cup just like Imran Khan had said.
Jonty Rhodes flies through the air to dismiss Inzamam
But what trumped Inzamam was how he was dismissed. In what is considered by many as the best moment of the tournament and perhaps the greatest run out in history, Jonty Rhodes, who had set the cricketing world on fire with his fielding, flew through the air to dismiss Inzamam.
With this loss, all the cricket experts had predicted that Pakistan were out of the tournament.
Match 6: Pakistan vs Australia
On the morning of 11 March 1992, no one was even thinking Pakistan would reach the semifinal.
Pakistan had to face off against Australia in Perth. While Australia were one of the favourites of the tournament, their losses against New Zealand and South Africa had brought down the morale of the team. However, if they could beat Pakistan, the team could come to the top.
What people didn’t realise was that this Pakistan team wasn’t the same side which had lost to South Africa three days ago. This time, all the players knew they had to win; no one cared about their injuries or careers—everyone was determined to win this match against Australia.
Pakistan vs Australia highlights
Aamir Sohail and Ramiz Raja had a flying start. Wasim Akram got his rhythm back. Aqib Javed was back in form and the Aussie batsmen could not understand the googlies of Mushtaq Ahmed. Pakistan won the match by 48 runs, taking the team’s cumulative points to five.
Match 7: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
Pakistan faced off against Sri Lanka on 15 March in Perth.
Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 212 with the team’s top performance coming from Aravinda de Silva who scored 43 runs. Mushtaq Ahmed had the best bowling figures for Pakistan, picking up two wickets.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka highlights
Pakistan were able to secure the win as Javed Miandad’s brilliance continued. He scored 57, while Saleem Malik, who, until this point, had failed to contribute significantly, chipped in with 51. After defeating Sri Lanka, Pakistan got to seven points. The team then travelled to Christchurch where they would face New Zealand.
Match 8: Pakistan vs New Zealand
Defeating New Zealand was quite a challenge as the Kiwis were unbeaten in the tournament so far.
But, thanks to Wasim Akram (4/32) and Mushtaq Ahmed’s (2/18) outstanding bowling and Ramiz Raja’s 119 runs, Pakistan beat New Zealand.
However, the Green Shirts still hadn’t earned a ticket to semifinal.
Pakistan vs New Zealand highlights
Pakistan had to wait for Australia’s match against West Indies that afternoon. If West Indies had won, it would have been the fourth team to qualify for the semifinal. But Australia defeated them, knocking the WIndies out of the tournament. Both teams had 8 points each, but this is where that one point earned by Pakistan in the rain-abandoned England match came to the Green Shirts’ rescue.
Pakistan were through to the semifinals.
Semifinal: Pakistan vs New Zealand
21 March 1992: The day of the semifinal against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland. At 2:30am back home, every Pakistani fan was glued to their TV, with no sign of sleep for miles.
Pakistan had already defeated New Zealand in a previous league match, so the team’s morale was really high. For the Pakistani pacers, Kiwi opener Mark Greatbatch presented a formidable challenge as he knew how to dominate bowlers early on in the innings. But Aqib Javed bowled him with a slow delivery, giving Pakistan their first breakthrough. New Zealand, driven by captain Martin Crowe’s 91 runs, set Pakistan a target of 263.
The openers laid a solid base, while captain Imran Khan came at one-down to bat. The next man in was the young Inzamam-ul-Haq, whom only a few people knew at that time. But at the very start of the World Cup, Imran Khan had claimed Inzamam would steer Pakistan to the trophy. Before the match had begun, Inzamam was suffering from fever and was doubtful about playing. But seeing his captain’s trust in his abilities, Inzamam decided to play.
Pakistan vs New Zealand semifinal highlights
Inzamam smashed a quickfire 60, taking Pakistan to the brink of victory when it seemed to be a difficult chase. When he was eventually run out, the Green Shirts already had the ball in their court. Javed Miandad and Moin Khan saw the match through, hitting the last few glorious shots to power Pakistan into the historic final.
Final: Pakistan vs England
Pakistan and England faced off in the final on 25 March 1992. This was the day both teams had worked hard for and dreamed about. This wasn’t the English side which had crumbled on 74 runs just a few days ago; this was a side which wanted to nail the ultimate glory.
Thousands of miles away, millions of hopeful fans in Pakistan had huddled together in one silent prayer. The trophy was just one match away. Pakistan had come this far, there was no going back now.
The final being played at MCG-Getty Images
The MCG was quick a sight. The stadium was packed. Imran Khan and Graham Gooch walked out to the field for the toss. Khan had donned a T-shirt with the symbolic logo of a tiger – his ‘Cornered Tigers’ were ready to win this encounter.
The match kicked off. Both Aamer Sohail and Ramiz Raja got out early, and things looked tense. But the situation turned around when Imran Khan came in to bat at one-down. The skipper smashed 72 while Javed Miandad piled on 58. A quick-fire 33 by Wasim Akram helped take the total to 249.
‘Swing ka Sultan’ Wasim Akram was ready as the England openers came in to bat. He sent the great Ian Botham back to the pavilion for a duck. And who can forget the back-to-back dismissals by Wasim Akram of Allan Lamb and Carl Lewis, perhaps the best two deliveries in a final!
The English batsmen struggled as they failed to figure out Mushtaq Ahmed and Wasim Akram’s tricky deliveries. The ‘Cornered Tigers’ were closing in.
When Imran Khan held the ball to bowl the final over, the majestic MCG was resounding with shouts of ‘Pakistan Zindabad!’ The skipper got Richard Illingworth and England were all out for 227.
Pakistan had won! The Green Shirts had won the 1992 World Cup – the trophy, the ultimate glory!
Pakistan vs England World Cup final highlights
