[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] u can say....i will take it..
2 different generation, different context - therefore direct comparison is unfair. Also, two attacks actually suited both conditions (i. e. that attack in 1992 in AUS & this one in 2017 in UK) better than say opposite. But, personally I'll take 1992 attack, because of 3 genuine wicket takers - Aquib was fantastic with new ball (If I can recall correctly, he took at least one wicket in his 1st spell after the WI match, can't recall an opening partnership over 25 against PAK thereafter, mostly for AJ), while Mushi was easily the best spinner around. The 3rd one of that attack is the best ever LO fast bowler, and he was at his menacing best.
That team had all 3 bowlers in Official Tournament XI, and it was a fantastic balanced attack with almost every type of options available to Captain (& a Captain, who knew how to use bowlers). Cricket is not a game like Football or Basketball that you can double team a CR, Messi or Durant - it's one on one between a batsman & bowler - those 30 overs won a WC. This is one reason that cricket teams can't be compared by player to player comparison, because the strength of the teams are not only the sum of individuals or stats (even from same era) - you can never measure the impact of those 10 overs of Akram, neither the intensity of any bowling attack under different Captains like Azhar, Sarfraz or Imran can be measured.
If I am to make a combined team, probably it'll end very balanced distribution -
1. Raja - His stats (35/65) till '92 final was world class, for the then cricket - it's higher in SR than Gordon Grineedge or Desi Haynes or Graham Gooch, and higher in average by some margin than Allen Border or Harry De Silva at that point of time. We are comparing Azhar's current stats of 38/75 with Raja, when the best are like 50/90 - you never know what Azhar would have done, when 30/60 stats were considered very good for openers & Graham Gooch had stats like 38/60 around at that time. Besides, Raja was in fantastic form in that tournament.
2. Fakhar - It's close between Fakhar & Sohail - Sohail also had a good tournament - won the MoM in the must win game against host AUS. Besides, he was a critical part of the bowling combination (Fakhar can bowl, but he is not part of a 5 men bowling strategy). But, this combined team doesn't need bowling back-up & Fakhar's contribution in KO matches were better.
3. Babar - Imran was a desperate measures at 3, to his credit he served the purpose (& almost bolted in SF)
4. Javed
5. Imran
6. Inzi
7. Sarfraz - Moin was probably similar in terms of Keeping, or may be a little bit inferior, but Sarfraz is a better bat, Moin was more impactful bat - I pick the better WK
8. Wasim
9. Mushi
10. Hasan
11. Amir - Ideally, Amir should miss out, because Aquib made the WC XI, which Amir failed. That tournament, Aquib was exceptional throughout - he also took 3 wickets in Final & good 3 wickets - Stuart, Fairbrother & forgot the 3rd one. But, Amir is by far better bowler, better batsman and he was instrumental in 2 of the 3 must win games that he played. Aquib or Sohail comes as the 12th man.
So, it's 6/5 to team 1992 or 7/5, with a back up. This makes the team of 1992 far better in 2 aspects -
a. Though starting XI is 6/5, but 1992 team had few truly remarkable match winners in Wasim, Javed, Imran & Inzi. Team 2017, may be had only one in Amir, or for this tournament 2 more young potentials. ABOVE ALL - they had 3 distinctive leaders for such ICC events - Wasim for bowling, Javed for batting and Imran while on field. 2017 team only partially had a bowling leader, and a decent field marshal, with Mohammad Hafeez or Azhar Ali while batting.
b. In a 15 men squad, next 3 spots actually will go to players from 1992 - Amir, Aquib & Moin. May be MoHa will come as 15th player, because of his off spin - which means, in a longer tournament, that 1992 team will do better. They actually did that, by gradually raising their game in later games & that longer format gave that team time to regroup.
You asked for bowling - 3 of the 5 bowlers are from 1992, with the prime spinner and # 1, 3, 5 in order of merit. Add to that the respective men in charge of marshaling those 2 separate attacks - it's actually not even an one sided contest.
I am 100% certain I would take Azhar and Babar (at least) of these two every freaking time.
