Benson & Hedges World Cup 1992 : Imran’s Dream Come True

Fifth edition of the ODI Cricket World Cup brought many new features. It was the first time the World Cup moved to down under with Australia and New Zealand hosting cricket’s biggest extravaganza.  It also marked the world cup matches taking place under the floodlights, the coloured uniforms came into being.  South Africa making their debut, the nine participating nations played each other in the round robin league with the top 4 making it into the semi finals. Number 1 ranked team on the league table were to clash with the number 4 ranked team while number 2 & 3 are to clash in the semi finals.

New Zealand appeared to be the all conquering team as they trounced every nations till they ran into Pakistan. Late Martin Crowe led from the front till he was injured in the semi final clash against Pakistan while batting. Crowe also drew accolades with his innovative skills. Noteworthy of which are the introduction of Dipak Patel, a spinner, as an opening bowler and promoting Mark Greatbatch, a pinch-hitter, as an opener. Both these innovations proved to be a huge success.

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The most handicapped team of the tournament happened to be Pakistan as there was no Abdul Qadir, fast bowler Waqar Younis ruled out just before the tournament began, skipper Imran Khan, himself, was suffering from frozen shoulder and  Javed Miandad  led the team in the initial stages of the tournament. As usual, Pakistan started off disastrously. They were even bowled out for 74 against England, the lowest total of that World Cup, the weathergods were kind enough to Pakistan as rain intervened as the match was abandoned with both the teams getting a point apiece. This point later proved to be crucial for Pakistan’s passage to the semi finals.

Australia, too, played pathetic cricket in front of their home crowds. The match between Australia and Pakistan virtually proved   to be a quarter final as whoever loses will be missing the semi -final bus. Before that match Imran Khan told his boys that they have nothing to lose and just attack like wounded tigers which was obeyed by every Pakistan cricketers. This comment of Imran later recorded by Wisden as one of the most beautiful comment in the history of the game. Pakistan gave everything in that match to dethrone the hosts and the defending champions at WACA, Perth.

So, it went on like this Pakistan is to take on New Zealand and England are to clash with South Africa in the semi finals. Inzamam-Ul-Haq reported stomach upset just before the semi final and still Imran reposed faith on him and picked him into his playing XI . A faith which was ably justified by Inzamam as when he walked in to bat Pakistan was still short by 123 runs with 15 overs remaining. Inzy played the innings of his life scoring 60 of 37 deliveries and snatched a fine victory for Pakistan from the jaws of defeat. Weird rain rule halted South Africa’s fairy tale run against England in the other semi finals.

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So it was Pakistan vs England in the Grand Finale. Pakistan batted first and lost two early wickets. Skipper Imran Khan promoted himself at number 3 and scored 72. He along with experienced Javed Miandad (58) steadied the ship and a late surge by Inzamam-Ul-Haq 42(35)  and Wasim Akram 33(18) propelled Pakistan to 249. Chasing 250 to lift the World Cup, England off to a disastrous start losing Ian Botham for a duck.  Soon  the score became 4/69. Neil Fairbrother 62(70) and Allan Lamb 31(41) took the total to 141 before Imran turned to Wasim Akram, a move which proved to be the turning point of the match as he castled Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis off successive deliveries. Later Aaqib Javed removed Neil Fairbrother to seal the match and the championship for Pakistan. The poetic justice was done when Imran had the last man Richard Illingworth caught by Ramiz Raja .

So the dream came true for Imran and the money he got in the process was spend towards his cancer hospital he build in his mother’s memory.

Late Martin Crowe was adjudged the player of the World Cup