How come Pakistan played two debutants in the 1992 World Cup?

[gazza619]

Both Iqbal Sikandar and Wasim Haider played their debut game in the opening game of the 1992 WC game against the West Indies. Pakistan famously got thrashed by 10 wickets in that game. I remember little me watching the game live on PTV. Also remember Mustansar Hussain Tarrar (TV host) being overly optimistic about Pakistan’s chances in that game.

Nevermind, I always wondered that we always talk about Pakistan’s quality and bench strength from the late 80s and 90s and yet here we were in a situation where we played two rather ordinary debutants in a World Cup.

I know Waqar was injured but boy that bench strength looked rather depressing.

Does anyone know what was happening behind the scenes those days?

 

[Abid Z]

I think bench strength was less of an issue up to the 1990’s simply due to fewer matches being played. There were only about 5 decent test playing teams so it was a bit of an event when matches were on and of course a lot less video analysis to pick weaknesses. A couple of good performances could turn a match but 1 bad performance didn’t necessarily lose you the match.

Nowadays the situation is quite different. The bench is all important and every single performance matters down to a wicket keeping batsman. The bench today is far more depressing because we had the opportunity to develop really good bowlers but simply fooled ourselves into thinking SSA Naseem and haris Rauf would do it for us. They won’t.

 

[Saj]

I believe Imran Khan wanted 2 leggies in the squad and that's why Iqbal Sikandar was included.

Wasim Haider was a steady all-rounder in domestic.

 

[Justcrazy]

Imran wanted to have a long batting line up , that is what he did in 1987 also .

Ijaz , sohail , Malik all were used in short bursts as bowlers.

Even Ranatunga used the same policy in 96 world cup.

 

[W63L35]

Imran Khan was a huge believer in right arm leg spinners in ODI cricket.
Wasim Haider was last minute replacement for Waqar Younis.

Plus... no other spinner was played besides Mushtaq in 2 years leading to the 1992 WC.

 

[gazza619]

Imran Khan was a huge believer in right arm leg spinners in ODI cricket.
Wasim Haider was last minute replacement for Waqar Younis.

Plus... no other spinner was played besides Mushtaq in 2 years leading to the 1992 WC. View attachment 137093

Interesting. I take it Abdul Qadir was injured?

 

[gazza619]

Imran wanted to have a long batting line up , that is what he did in 1987 also .

Ijaz , sohail , Malik all were used in short bursts as bowlers.

Even Ranatunga used the same policy in 96 world cup.

So it seems like even in today’s cricket if you have someone who can score useful runs at number 8/9, you have a good chance. Pakistan’s lower order is decent these days with Shaheen batting at number 10.

 

[W63L35]

Interesting. I take it Abdul Qadir was injured?

Qadir played three ODIs in 1990 without taking any wickets in those 3 ODIs. So tchnically, his career was over in 1990. He was recalled for 2 more ODIs in November 1993 but picked only one wicket in those 2 ODIs.

 

[gazza619]

Qadir played three ODIs in 1990 without taking any wickets in those 3 ODIs. So tchnically, his career was over in 1990. He was recalled for 2 more ODIs in November 1993 but picked only one wicket in those 2 ODIs.

I saw Qadir in 1993, he still looked good. He almost got a wicket of Lara on his very first ball in Sharjah

I still don’t get why Imran preferred Iqbal Sikandar over Qadir

 

[Justcrazy]

So it seems like even in today’s cricket if you have someone who can score useful runs at number 8/9, you have a good chance. Pakistan’s lower order is decent these days with Shaheen batting at number 10.

Also , if your top order has batters who can bowl a few overs .

 

[moghul]

I saw Qadir in 1993, he still looked good. He almost got a wicket of Lara on his very first ball in Sharjah

I still don’t get why Imran preferred Iqbal Sikandar over Qadir

In those days players were selected after years of good performance in FC cricket ( unless you're Akram, Waqar or Aakib ) and Iqbal Sikandar had many years of FC cricket with good performance , hence selected . Qadir had regressed significantly by then was not a contender for selection . Waseem Haider also had a goof FC record before his selection .

 

[ArabKnight]

Because in those days, captains chose the players of XI on merit and not on friendship.

 

[Stewie]

Short answer: because Imran could have his way and nobody could oppose him. He took the team he wanted and he backed his guys. Some punts paid off for him (inzi, mushy, sohail) and some didn’t. Iqbal sikander was a dud and IK was criticized for taking him. Haider was just ok, nothing special.