Pakistan’s real Golden era - 1996 to 1999

[gazza619]

1996 World Cup concluded in March 1996 and 1999 World Cup kicked started in May 1999.

The 1996 team had many loop holes. Wasim was still an immature captain, Javed Miandad was a very very old man who had overstayed his welcome, Rameez Raja’s game was already outdated, Aquib Javed and to some extent Waqar Younis were already past their best.

Now what I find truly amazing is that how did we find so many match winning players in a 3 year period which transformed the 1999 World Cup squad?
The list includes Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mehmood, M Yousuf & Shahid Afridi.

Saqlain was also part of the 1996 squad but by 1999 he was a legend of the limited overs game. Moin had found his mojo with the slog sweep, Wasim was an inspiring captain, Saeed Anwar was classy yet mature. Waqar and Mushi was part of the squad but were rightly kept out throughout most of the tournament.

Now the big question is how come we had so many things right? Was it pure luck or an awesome cricket board management or the coach or the captain? Or what it more deeper like a stable government or a booming economy? What was it that we got such a load of dynamic players in only a space of 3 years? I regard this as the best era of our cricket!

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistan must be the only team in the world that lost home Test series to Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and Zimbabwe during its so-called “golden era”.

90’s Pakistan, especially late 90’s, are so overrated it is not even funny. A bunch of mentally weak, indisciplined match-fixers and cheats.

However, Pakistan is the least talented team in the world today so I don’t blame the fans for looking back at the late 90’s with nostalgia.

A lot of the bang average players from that era would probably walk into the current side.

 

[umarf76]

1996 World Cup concluded in March 1996 and 1999 World Cup kicked started in May 1999.

The 1996 team had many loop holes. Wasim was still an immature captain, Javed Miandad was a very very old man who had overstayed his welcome, Rameez Raja’s game was already outdated, Aquib Javed and to some extent Waqar Younis were already past their best.

Now what I find truly amazing is that how did we find so many match winning players in a 3 year period which transformed the 1999 World Cup squad?
The list includes Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Azhar Mehmood, M Yousuf & Shahid Afridi.

Saqlain was also part of the 1996 squad but by 1999 he was a legend of the limited overs game. Moin had found his mojo with the slog sweep, Wasim was an inspiring captain, Saeed Anwar was classy yet mature. Waqar and Mushi was part of the squad but were rightly kept out throughout most of the tournament.

Now the big question is how come we had so many things right? Was it pure luck or an awesome cricket board management or the coach or the captain? Or what it more deeper like a stable government or a booming economy? What was it that we got such a load of dynamic players in only a space of 3 years? I regard this as the best era of our cricket!

The real golden period to me was 1986 to 1988

1-1 vs. West indies at Home
Beat India in India
Beat England in england
Semi final in the WC but clearly the best team in the cup
1-1 in West Indies which was a great achievement.

 

[Ab Fan]

In ODIs, they were great but in tests, they were an overrated team due to the lack of home success given the talent possessed.

That bowling attack of Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib and Saqlain at one point is absolutely freakish.

 

[gazza619]

Pakistan must be the only team in the world that lost home Test series to Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and Zimbabwe during its so-called “golden era”.

90’s Pakistan, especially late 90’s, are so overrated it is not even funny. A bunch of mentally weak, indisciplined match-fixers and cheats.

However, Pakistan is the least talented team in the world today so I don’t blame the fans for looking back at the late 90’s with nostalgia.

A lot of the bang average players from that era would probably walk into the current side.

I am not referring to wins or losses, match fixing or what not, I am talking about finding world class players. Surely those guys we found in 3 years had a higher pedigree.

 

[gazza619]

The real golden period to me was 1986 to 1988

1-1 vs. West indies at Home
Beat India in India
Beat England in england
Semi final in the WC but clearly the best team in the cup
1-1 in West Indies which was a great achievement.

As a team yes that was a great period, our 80s team unit was filled with legends throughout the decade.

 

[Markhor]

There was no stability or booming economy at this time - Pakistan were under sanctions due to the nuclear programme while Bhutto and Sharif were playing musical chairs with the premiership. The administration was too weak in enforcing discipline and beset by infighting. However domestic cricket was stronger around this time hence we still produced some top cricketers. It was during Rameez Raja's time as CEO when the number of FC teams ballooned and the quality of pitches steadily deteriorated.

On the field Pakistan were frankly mediocre with no real consistency beyond sporadic flashes of genius. We lost to Zimbabwe, Australia and South Africa at home, and drew with a weak New Zealand team in Tests during this spell.

Our golden era was 1986-1994 which was the only time Pakistan were anything resembling a consistently successful team.

 

[gazza619]

In ODIs, they were great but in tests, they were an overrated team due to the lack of home success given the talent possessed.

That bowling attack of Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib and Saqlain at one point is absolutely freakish.

When Shoaib came to the scene, Waqar was past his glory days. Our first choice bowling unit then comprised of Wasim, Shoaib, Razzaq, Mehmood and Saqlain.

Mind you both Razzaq and Mehmood were quick in those days so it was a fearsome attack for the ODIs.

 

[Kaddy]

I am not referring to wins or losses, match fixing or what not, I am talking about finding world class players. Surely those guys we found in 3 years had a higher pedigree.

In that case you should ideally change the title of your thread.

By "Pakistan's real Golden era" title, first thing which comes to anyone's mind is Pakistan team's on ground performance.

But your actual topic is, how & why Pakistan found more world class player during that specific period.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I think the 87-92 period may have been better. Inzi, Anwar, Sohail, Waqar, Aaqib, Mushy, Moin/Latif were all found in that World Cup cycle.

 

[ChTab]

The so-called golden generation never won any world cup despite being one of the favorites in 1996 & 1999.

 

[Majid Khan]

The 80s and 90s era was a memorable era in Pakistan cricket , that is for sure - golden era in the sense that it had the golden generation of Pakistani cricketers who had the talent and potential within them to be a match winning team that should have dominated world cricket.

Unfortunately that didn’t happen, and even their rivals of that era would accept that if it didn’t happen it was not due to cricketing reasons or lack of ability - it was due to infighting, player politics, corruption, and indiscipline.

Otherwise the team that Imran left in the 90s should have ruled world cricket for a decade.

 

[subshakerz]

Pakistan in the 90s actually had a pretty decent away record, winning in NZ, England and Sri Lanka, and doing well in South Africa and India, while winning a test in Australia.

If Pakistan didn't lose test series at home from 95 onwards, they would have ended the decade as the no.2 side in the world, ahead of South Africa but behind Australia.

 

[Third_Umpire]

Pakistan must be the only team in the world that lost home Test series to Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and Zimbabwe during its so-called “golden era”.

90’s Pakistan, especially late 90’s, are so overrated it is not even funny. A bunch of mentally weak, indisciplined match-fixers and cheats.

However, Pakistan is the least talented team in the world today so I don’t blame the fans for looking back at the late 90’s with nostalgia.

A lot of the bang average players from that era would probably walk into the current side.

Would you say we are less talented than Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa?

I thought we are on par with New Zealand, and able to challenge Eng, Aus, India on our day. PSL is churning out talent our revamped domestic is like Shield cricket?

 

[Ab Fan]

When Shoaib came to the scene, Waqar was past his glory days. Our first choice bowling unit then comprised of Wasim, Shoaib, Razzaq, Mehmood and Saqlain.

Mind you both Razzaq and Mehmood were quick in those days so it was a fearsome attack for the ODIs.

Yeah, it was still a brilliant attack for ODIs. Razzaq in his first half of ODI career was terrific bowler.

 

[Liverpool_Faizan]

Would you say we are less talented than Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa?

I thought we are on par with New Zealand, and able to challenge Eng, Aus, India on our day. PSL is churning out talent our revamped domestic is like Shield cricket?

Lol don't bother. He has somehow managed to quantify talent. Something which if he was able to calculate then ecery team should be able to translate and pick up a dominating team. It's baffling how he has managed to conclude that.

 

[Mamoon]

Inzamam-Woolmer’s Pakistan would comfortably beat the so-called golden generation of Pakistan over a Test series.

The middle-order of Younis, Yousuf and Inzamam is the most formidable and prolific middle-order Pakistan had ever had.

Asif was a better Test bowler than Waqar.

Kamran in the 2004-07 period was a quality player and a far better batsman than Moin and Latif.

Sahlain was better than Kaneria but the latter was also an underrated spinner. He performed admirably outside Asia and won Pakistani many games in Asia.

Inzamam himself was a far better player during his captaincy than he was in the late 90’s.

Basically, Saeed Anwar and Wasim are the only two standout players of that period who would be far better than their counterparts in the 2004-2007 team.

 

[Mamoon]

Would you say we are less talented than Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa?

I thought we are on par with New Zealand, and able to challenge Eng, Aus, India on our day. PSL is churning out talent our revamped domestic is like Shield cricket?

If we talk about talent alone, Pakistan is, pound for pound, the least talented cricket nation ever. The notion that there is a lot of talent in Pakistan is one of the biggest myths and lies sold in cricket.

We have very, very little to show for considering that we have the largest cricket population in the world after India.

Pakistan has never produced a single batsman who is worthy of being considered in the same class as Tendulkar, Viv Richards, Lara, Ponting, Kohli etc.

Pakistan has never produced a single ATG WK batsman in the same class as Gilchrist, Dhoni, Sangakkara etc.

Pakistan has not produced a single successful Test class all-rounder since Imran Khan. Razzaq was a mediocre Test cricketer and Mahmood was a one series wonder.

Pakistan has not produced a single spinner with 350+ Test wickets.

No ODI batsman from Pakistan has scored more than 20 hundreds.

Pakistan have produced only one successful all-format middle-batsman in the last 20 years. Between Yousuf and Babar’s debuts, no middle-order batsman had the game to succeed in all formats.

And even Babar does not appear to be a top tier Test batsman. He has temperament issues and his skill level against spin is below par for an Asian batsman.

Pakistan has a mediocre legacy in all departments of the game except fast bowling, and the fast bowling legacy itself was largely established due to reverse-swing achieved with dubious means.

As soon as those dubious means became less accessible and practicable due to better quality cameras, the quality of our fast bowling tumbled.

Also, overall, Pakistan has to be the most incompetent fielding team ever.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

The real golden period to me was 1986 to 1988

1-1 vs. West indies at Home
Beat India in India
Beat England in england
Semi final in the WC but clearly the best team in the cup
1-1 in West Indies which was a great achievement.

You are right.
A lot of Posters here are too young as they started watching cricket in late 90s. so they have no Idea. Pakistan's glory years were the second half of the 8os. Pakistan Tied not one but 3 series 1-1 against the greatest team of all times. the mighty West indies, kids have no Idea what a terror west indies was, if they dont get you out they will injure you. It was the fear of injury and series body harm that caused majority of dismissals. this is something you cant read on a stats page or see in the highlights. You have to watch ball by ball the fear and terror in the eyes of Opponents of West indies. on top of that There were series victories in India and In England. Home victories against Australia, England and that devastation of India in 1982 in Pakistan. The domination of India in Odi that began in Sharjah 1986 that long lasted into the 90s. in 1987 Indian tour, Pakistan played 6 odi against India and the result was 5-1 for Pakistan.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Pakistan must be the only team in the world that lost home Test series to Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and Zimbabwe during its so-called “golden era”.

90’s Pakistan, especially late 90’s, are so overrated it is not even funny. A bunch of mentally weak, indisciplined match-fixers and cheats.

However, Pakistan is the least talented team in the world today so I don’t blame the fans for looking back at the late 90’s with nostalgia.

A lot of the bang average players from that era would probably walk into the current side.

No, it was not our best era but far from it. Pakistan should have done better but they underperformed. Lack of unity, infighting and fixing.

 

[subshakerz]

Inzamam-Woolmer’s Pakistan would comfortably beat the so-called golden generation of Pakistan over a Test series.

The middle-order of Younis, Yousuf and Inzamam is the most formidable and prolific middle-order Pakistan had ever had.

Asif was a better Test bowler than Waqar.

Kamran in the 2004-07 period was a quality player and a far better batsman than Moin and Latif.

Sahlain was better than Kaneria but the latter was also an underrated spinner. He performed admirably outside Asia and won Pakistani many games in Asia.

Inzamam himself was a far better player during his captaincy than he was in the late 90’s.

Basically, Saeed Anwar and Wasim are the only two standout players of that period who would be far better than their counterparts in the 2004-2007 team.

You are forgetting Mushtaq Ahmed, who was world class in the late 90s.

Waqar in the late 90s was still Gillespie-level as a bowler.

If late 90s Pakistan had a bowling attack of Wasim, Waqar, Saqlain and Mushtaq they would beat Inzi's team. Shoaib Akthar wouldn't last an entire series in the 2000s.

 

[Mamoon]

You are forgetting Mushtaq Ahmed, who was world class in the late 90s.

Waqar in the late 90s was still Gillespie-level as a bowler.

If late 90s Pakistan had a bowling attack of Wasim, Waqar, Saqlain and Mushtaq they would beat Inzi's team. Shoaib Akthar wouldn't last an entire series in the 2000s.

Pakistan’s batting lineup of the 90’s would not stand a chance against Mohammad Asif in his pomp. Mediocre players like Aamer Sohail and Ijaz would not survive the opening spell of Asif.

Pakistan in the late 90’s lost countless home series. I highly doubt Inzamam’s Pakistan would have lost so many home series.

They competed very well against Ganguly’s India which was a far better team than the Indian side the late 90’s Pakistan faced.

 

[AMSS]

Pakistan certainly underachieved for the amount of talent they reminisce about in 80s and 90s. They were ranked number 1 for just two months - August and September 1988.

India occupied the top spot in 90s for 3 months for all the meme shaming they receive.

 

[umarf76]

You are right.
A lot of Posters here are too young as they started watching cricket in late 90s. so they have no Idea. Pakistan's glory years were the second half of the 8os. Pakistan Tied not one but 3 series 1-1 against the greatest team of all times. the mighty West indies, kids have no Idea what a terror west indies was, if they dont get you out they will injure you. It was the fear of injury and series body harm that caused majority of dismissals. this is something you cant read on a stats page or see in the highlights. You have to watch ball by ball the fear and terror in the eyes of Opponents of West indies. on top of that There were series victories in India and In England. Home victories against Australia, England and that devastation of India in 1982 in Pakistan. The domination of India in Odi that began in Sharjah 1986 that long lasted into the 90s. in 1987 Indian tour, Pakistan played 6 odi against India and the result was 5-1 for Pakistan.

I guess we are too old now .

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan’s batting lineup of the 90’s would not stand a chance against Mohammad Asif in his pomp. Mediocre players like Aamer Sohail and Ijaz would not survive the opening spell of Asif.

Pakistan in the late 90’s lost countless home series. I highly doubt Inzamam’s Pakistan would have lost so many home series.

They competed very well against Ganguly’s India which was a far better team than the Indian side the late 90’s Pakistan faced.

This is a myth. Ijaz Ahmed was one of the most successful batsmen against McGrath and he was a much superior bowler to Asif.

Pakistan in the 95-99 World Cup period were a superior team to the Inzi-Woolmer era. They underperformed for sure but they were only behind Australia and SA in tests.

Inzi"s team had some very poor performances like the tours of England/OZ/WI. It was an improvement over the previous 4 years under Moin/Waqar and so looks better.
For me, its

Wasim (95-99)
Inzi(03-07) = Misbah (2010-17)
Moin/Waqar (99-03)
Malik/Moyo/Butt(2007-10)

Pakistan were bad under Moin and Waqar and nearly minnows under Malik/Moyo/Butt

 

[Mamoon]

This is a myth. Ijaz Ahmed was one of the most successful batsmen against McGrath and he was a much superior bowler to Asif.

Pakistan in the 95-99 World Cup period were a superior team to the Inzi-Woolmer era. They underperformed for sure but they were only behind Australia and SA in tests.

Inzi"s team had some very poor performances like the tours of England/OZ/WI. It was an improvement over the previous 4 years under Moin/Waqar and so looks better.
For me, its

Wasim (95-99)
Inzi(03-07) = Misbah (2010-17)
Moin/Waqar (99-03)
Malik/Moyo/Butt(2007-10)

Pakistan were bad under Moin and Waqar and nearly minnows under Malik/Moyo/Butt

Ijaz Ahmed was a mediocre batsman who was only relevant in Test cricket vs Australia. He struggled against most other good lineups and he was below par against spin. His inconsistency was a major reason why Pakistan had such a poor home record from mid to late 90s.

Both Yousuf and later Younis were massive upgrades on Ijaz at the number 3 position. Even Azhar is a better batsman than Ijaz.

Considering how frequently he struggled against top bowlers excludes some anomalies like McGrath, it is inevitable that he would have struggled against Asif.

If you are suggesting that Ijaz was a top batsman or he would have dominated Asif because he did well against McGrath, then you are basically implying that Ijaz was a better batsman than De Villiers, Amla, Pietersen and Laxman, who all struggled against Asif.

Pakistan was a poor Test team in the mid to late 90s and the only reason they were the so-called third best team at the time is because the other teams were really poor as well. English cricket reached its nadir in that period before Nasser Hussain and later Vaughan lifted them up in the 2000s.

New Zealand was also a weak team in that period and West Indies entered their terminal decline from 1996 onwards.

India was showing signs of an upward shift with the emergence of Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman as able partners for Tendulkar, but they were much stronger in the 2000s under Ganguly.

Inzamam’s Pakistan would also have been the third best team in the mid to late 90s if they were not competing with much better Indian and English teams than the one Pakistan competed with in the mid to late 90s.

 

[subshakerz]

Pakistan’s batting lineup of the 90’s would not stand a chance against Mohammad Asif in his pomp. Mediocre players like Aamer Sohail and Ijaz would not survive the opening spell of Asif.

Pakistan in the late 90’s lost countless home series. I highly doubt Inzamam’s Pakistan would have lost so many home series.

They competed very well against Ganguly’s India which was a far better team than the Indian side the late 90’s Pakistan faced.

I am assuming that the series would be played in Pakistan.

Asif wouldnt really have much of an impact on Pakistani pitches unless it was a green top. Check his record. And Shoaib would break down mid-series. Kaneria was not as good as Saqlain or Mushtaq Ahmed.

Inzi's team lost at home against Ganguly. He also lost in England and lost in South Africa wheres the 90s Pakistan did well in both.

90s Pakistan lost because of match-fixing, in-fighting and multiple captains. But as a team they were much better than the 2000s side.

 

[Mamoon]

I am assuming that the series would be played in Pakistan.

Asif wouldnt really have much of an impact on Pakistani pitches unless it was a green top. Check his record. And Shoaib would break down mid-series. Kaneria was not as good as Saqlain or Mushtaq Ahmed.

Inzi's team lost at home against Ganguly. He also lost in England and lost in South Africa wheres the 90s Pakistan did well in both.

90s Pakistan lost because of match-fixing, in-fighting and multiple captains. But as a team they were much better than the 2000s side.

The India and England that beat Inzamam’s Pakistan in Pakistan and England respectively were stronger than the ones Pakistan beat in the late 90’s.

2000s England would obliterate late 90’s England. Ganguly’s India would also smash the late 90’s Indian team.

South Africa in the late 90’s had a stronger bowling unit than the one in 2000’s before Steyn emerged, but they had a more robust batting lineup in the early and mid 2000s because Kallis was a monster in that decade and also because of Graeme Smith.

Inzamam’s Pakistan had a significantly better batting lineup than the late 90’s Pakistan excluding Saeed Anwar.

I agree the 90’s team was riddled with fixing, but I find that the fixing excuse is used very conveniently to justify the embarrassing home losses that they suffered.

From 1994 onwards Pakistan played like a minnow team at home and not all of those results can be conveniently blamed on fixing and infighting.

We cannot attribute every win to their talent and skill and every defeat to their match-fixing.

The late 90’s Pakistan wasn’t a very good Test team. The batting lineup was fragile and W&W were beginning to decline as Test bowlers and were performing better in ODIs.

In ODIs, I would back that Pakistan to beat Inzamam’s team in a series but in Test cricket, I would put my money on Inzamam’s team.

 

[mastimasti]

Can someone remind me why Waqar only played one game in the 1999 world cup?

 

[hitthestump]

If Imran Khan was coaching Pakistan in the 1996-1999 era would anything have changed?

On paper Pakistan could produce the strongest line ups in the world, but we hardly ever saw them perform to their ability.

 

[Hasan123]

The 80s and early 90s was probably the golden era. Tbf I think the side we had under Inzi and Woolmer was stronger than this 90s team. The 90s team had a lot of talent but too many poor loses,infighting, and fixing to be considered a golden time.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

I guess we are too old now .

Old & wise.

 

[Mamoon]

Can someone remind me why Waqar only played one game in the 1999 world cup?

Akhtar had made Waqar obsolete at the time and Pakistan had fast bowling all-rounders like Razzaq and Mahmood.

There was no room for Waqar.

 

[Ab Fan]

Can someone remind me why Waqar only played one game in the 1999 world cup?

Waqar was considered as choker during his time. Whenever Waqar played, Pakistan ended up losing big games. In 1992 WC, Pakistan win in the absence of Waqar, thanks to the masterclass of Imran, Wasim and Inzamam.

In 1999 WC, Pakistan lost to Bangladesh of all team when Waqar played. Hence, Pakistan national team decided to drop him so that they can go all the way in 1999 WC. But unfortunately, Australia were too good in finals. However, it remains their second best ever performance in World Cups.

 

[subshakerz]

The India and England that beat Inzamam’s Pakistan in Pakistan and England respectively were stronger than the ones Pakistan beat in the late 90’s.

2000s England would obliterate late 90’s England. Ganguly’s India would also smash the late 90’s Indian team.

South Africa in the late 90’s had a stronger bowling unit than the one in 2000’s before Steyn emerged, but they had a more robust batting lineup in the early and mid 2000s because Kallis was a monster in that decade and also because of Graeme Smith.

Inzamam’s Pakistan had a significantly better batting lineup than the late 90’s Pakistan excluding Saeed Anwar.

I agree the 90’s team was riddled with fixing, but I find that the fixing excuse is used very conveniently to justify the embarrassing home losses that they suffered.

From 1994 onwards Pakistan played like a minnow team at home and not all of those results can be conveniently blamed on fixing and infighting.

We cannot attribute every win to their talent and skill and every defeat to their match-fixing.

The late 90’s Pakistan wasn’t a very good Test team. The batting lineup was fragile and W&W were beginning to decline as Test bowlers and were performing better in ODIs.

In ODIs, I would back that Pakistan to beat Inzimam’s team in a series but in Test cricket, I would put my money on Inzamam’s team.

No, the main reason Pakistan didn't succeed in the 90s was due to rotating captains. You can't expect a side to win if a captain isn't given a settled run.

In the 1980s, Pakistan's most successful decade, Pakistan had only three captains.

From 1992 to 2002, Pakistan had nine captains! Out of these nine, the only decent one was Wasim, who for whatever reason was not given an extended run, despite a very good overseas record and not even losing a test match at home.

Just for perspective, the series we lost at home in the 90s/early 2000s, the captains were Rameez Raja, Saaed Anwar, Aamer Sohail and Moin Khan, all pathetic.

 

[subshakerz]

When Pakistan were playing under Wasim, they did seem like a strong team. They won in NZ and England, drew in India (won 2/3 tests), won a test in Australia, won the Asian Test Championship, whitewashed WI at home, won the Carlton United series in Australia for the first time and got to the World Cup Final.

 

[Farabi]

Pakistan must be the only team in the world that lost home Test series to Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and Zimbabwe during its so-called “golden era”.

90’s Pakistan, especially late 90’s, are so overrated it is not even funny. A bunch of mentally weak, indisciplined match-fixers and cheats.

However, Pakistan is the least talented team in the world today so I don’t blame the fans for looking back at the late 90’s with nostalgia.

A lot of the bang average players from that era would probably walk into the current side.

The team was brilliant but also mercurial and enigmatic. Their peak was much much higher than the peak of any other team that has played cricket for Pakistan.
For not living up to expectations, one has to factor in
-match fixing was rampant
- musical chairs in leadership
- politics, egos and drama
- fitness and fielding

 

[NishanKonar]

Can someone remind me why Waqar only played one game in the 1999 world cup?

Waqar was woefully out of form in 1999. Had a resurgence from 2000-01 after gaining the captaincy

 

[Jazx]

If it's all about ODIs then it's correct to a certain extent but still that team underachieved heavily. And in test matches they were horrible at home. Not a golden period by any means.

 

[Jazx]

Waqar was woefully out of form in 1999. Had a resurgence from 2000-01 after gaining the captaincy

Waqar was not out of form. He was just finished after the 96 world Cup and when shoaib came into the scene it was really very easy to sideline waqar as a bowler. He made a comeback in 2000 but very soon started declining again when he got the captaincy.

 

[Last Monetarist]

That Pakistan side is easily the most overrated team in the history of cricket, full of individuals with misplaced loyalties as well. That lot was getting beaten on merit by Australia and South Africa, often with a whimper. It's the usual case of misty-eyed nostalgia if people remember that team fondly.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

That Pakistan side is easily the most overrated team in the history of cricket, full of individuals with misplaced loyalties as well. That lot was getting beaten on merit by Australia and South Africa, often with a whimper. It's the usual case of misty-eyed nostalgia if people remember that team fondly.

They were not a highly professional outfit like OZ/SA but Pakistan did produce an unusually high number of gifted cricketers who all underachieved imo. Particularly in ODI's, they were capable of some terrific cricket

 

[Last Monetarist]

They were not a highly professional outfit like OZ/SA but Pakistan did produce an unusually high number of gifted cricketers who all underachieved imo. Particularly in ODI's, they were capable of some terrific cricket

It doesn't matter whether they underachieved or not, that's a nebulous concept at best.

That side played 47 ODIs against South Africa and Australia during the nineties, they lost 30 of them.

 

[gazza619]

It doesn't matter whether they underachieved or not, that's a nebulous concept at best.

That side played 47 ODIs against South Africa and Australia during the nineties, they lost 30 of them.

I guess you could say we were the 3rd best side those days. No shame being behind the Australian and SA team which were at their strongest ever. We produced some box office players in those few years, and thats the point I was trying to make really. When Shane Warne was asking to name his World XI in 1999, at least half of his players were from Pakistan.

 

[shujaatraza]

Pakistan’s batting lineup of the 90’s would not stand a chance against Mohammad Asif in his pomp. Mediocre players like Aamer Sohail and Ijaz would not survive the opening spell of Asif.

Pakistan in the late 90’s lost countless home series. I highly doubt Inzamam’s Pakistan would have lost so many home series.

They competed very well against Ganguly’s India which was a far better team than the Indian side the late 90’s Pakistan faced.

And Yasir Hameed, Butt, Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Kamran Akmal succeeded against late 90s attack?

 

[Mamoon]

And Yasir Hameed, Butt, Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Kamran Akmal succeeded against late 90s attack?

Kamran in the Inzamam-Woolmer era was about twice the batsman Moin and thrice the batsman Latif were.

Younis and Yousuf were thrice the batsmen Ijaz and late 90’s version of Saleem Malik were.

Inzamam himself was a much better batsman in his captaincy than he was in the late 90’s.

In the batting department, Saeed Anwar was basically the only advantage the late 90’s team had over the Woolmer-Inzamam team, and he is a major advantage admittedly, but the Younis-Yousuf-Inzamam middle-order is the most prolific middle-order Pakistan has had ever had.

In a Test series, I have little to no doubt in my mind that the 2004-2006 Pakistan side would beat the 1995-2000 Pakistan side in virtually conditions.

 

[gazza619]

Kamran in the Inzamam-Woolmer era was about twice the batsman Moin and thrice the batsman Latif were.

Younis and Yousuf were thrice the batsmen Ijaz and late 90’s version of Saleem Malik were.

Inzamam himself was a much better batsman in his captaincy than he was in the late 90’s.

In the batting department, Saeed Anwar was basically the only advantage the late 90’s team had over the Woolmer-Inzamam team, and he is a major advantage admittedly, but the Younis-Yousuf-Inzamam middle-order is the most prolific middle-order Pakistan has had ever had.

In a Test series, I have little to no doubt in my mind that the 2004-2006 Pakistan side would beat the 1995-2000 Pakistan side in virtually conditions.

The test unit of 2004-06 was no doubt better. If you look at my thread I was referring to ODIs really. I have no doubt that the ODI team of late 90s was hands down one of the most balanced and dynamic sides Pakistan has ever produced. I mean we had Razzaq, Mehmood, Akram as our late order strikers, occasional brilliance from Afridi with the bat, Anwar’s class up the order, Saqi’s legendary doosra, Akhtar and Akram killing off the opposition with swing. There were so many things right. We also had a flavour of the speedster M Zahid who sadly got injured. I dont know man but those 3 years were just filled up spices and were actually exciting. Even when we go past 1999 we played the supposedly failure Imran Nazir as an opener, he was so so watchable and did play some valuable knocks in between.

I dont know whether the numbers back my claim or not, but I would happily buy an overpriced ticket to watch these players live!