Today, twenty years have passed since Pakistan’s historic triumph at Melbourne. It’s a day many Pakistanis look up to with pride. A day Pakistan beat their colonial masters to stake a claim on dominance of the cricketing world.
For many, the 1987 heartache at Lahore had been cured.
Talents that would carry the mantle of Pakistan cricket in years to come had been unearthed. A glorious career of an able and charismatic leader had come to a befitting climax.
Being Pakistan’s solitary world cup victory, makes it even more special for the Pakistani fans around the globe. Pakistan’s journey in this tournament epitomized their innate ability to leave the opposition flabbergasted with their inconsistency.
Even the most optimistic of opinions would have written them off halfway through the tournament. It was a safe bet against a team which had managed a solitary win in its first five games. Yet it took one man’s unshakeable resolve and a stroke of luck to drive Pakistan to top of the world.
An impeccable blend of youth and experience helped Pakistan lift that coveted trophy against all odds. Be it Imran’s hunger to win, Miandad’s salvaging act, Inzamam’s lusty blows, Akram’s bewildering deliveries, Mushtaq’s bamboozling googlies, Aqib’s nagging line and length, everything transpired to script what many term as a fascinating victory.
Cornered tigers, as Pakistan came to be known after this astounding revival, have seen many highs and lows in these twenty years. Yet none of the highs have ever come close to this overwhelming victory. As far as the lows are concerned, Pakistan cricket has seen too much of them lately. Though, Pakistan’s recent resurgence has given hope to the fans, hope derived from the very triumph they celebrate even after twenty long years.
The 1992 World Cup victory not only established Pakistan as a cricketing powerhouse but provided the fuel to fire passion in the nation’s heart. A passion that doesn’t seem to die, for they believe, if it has been done then it can be done again.
GeoSuper