Similarities between the 1999 Pakistan World Cup finalist team and the 2025 India Asia Cup-winning team – hypothetically, which team is stronger?

[Local.Dada]

Saeed Anwar vs Abhishek Sharma- Dashing power play left handed attacking bats

Inziman vs Shubman Gill- Elegant players who are pleasing to the eye when batting in flow but can be lazy at times

Azhar Mahmood vs Hardik Pandya- Allrounder

Abdul Razzaq vs Shivam Dube- Hard hitting allrounder

Moin Khan vs Sanju Samson- batsman who can hit big 6s in the middle + keeper

Wasim Akram vs Arshdeep Singh- again, not comparing the 2 but similar role, new ball wickets and death bowing

Shoaib Akthar vs Harshit Rana- Enforcer or quickest bowler in terms of pace in the team.

Waqar Younis vs Bumrah- Yorker specialists and strike bowlers

Ijaz Ahmed vs Surya Kumar Yadav- similar unorthodox but quick scoring batsmen.


Saqlain Mushtaq vs Varun Chakravarthy- finger spinner

Mushtaq Ahmed vs Kuldeep Yadav- wrist spinner

Shahid Afridi vs Axar Patel- hard hitting spin allrounders.

Yusuf vs Tilak Verma- young future prospect

Wajahtullah wasti vs Jitesh Sharma- Extra utility players.

Saleem Malik vs Rinku Singh - players who can play attacking or defensive based on situation.


Man to man the squads look so similar in style. Wonder which team will in a hypothetical scenario.

 

[Local.Dada]

Mods please move it to the cricket section @BouncerGuy @The Bald Eagle

 

[Usman Chadda]

Shoaib Akhtar will burn all his trophies after reading the OP

 

[RexRex]

Saeed Anwar vs Abhishek Sharma- Dashing power play left handed attacking bats

Inziman vs Shubman Gill- Elegant players who are pleasing to the eye when batting in flow but can be lazy at times

Azhar Mahmood vs Hardik Pandya- Allrounder

Abdul Razzaq vs Shivam Dube- Hard hitting allrounder

Moin Khan vs Sanju Samson- batsman who can hit big 6s in the middle + keeper

Wasim Akram vs Arshdeep Singh- again, not comparing the 2 but similar role, new ball wickets and death bowing

Shoaib Akthar vs Harshit Rana- Enforcer or quickest bowler in terms of pace in the team.

Waqar Younis vs Bumrah- Yorker specialists and strike bowlers

Ijaz Ahmed vs Surya Kumar Yadav- similar unorthodox but quick scoring batsmen.


Saqlain Mushtaq vs Varun Chakravarthy- finger spinner

Mushtaq Ahmed vs Kuldeep Yadav- wrist spinner

Shahid Afridi vs Axar Patel- hard hitting spin allrounders.

Yusuf vs Tilak Verma- young future prospect

Wajahtullah wasti vs Jitesh Sharma- Extra utility players.

Saleem Malik vs Rinku Singh - players who can play attacking or defensive based on situation.


Man to man the squads look so similar in style. Wonder which team will in a hypothetical scenario.

The only comparison you got right was S.Akhtar and Harshit Rana.

 

[saimayubera]

Shoaib Akhtar will burn all his trophies after reading the OP

He doesn't have any ICC trophies

 

[Local.Dada]

Shoaib Akhtar will burn all his trophies after reading the OP

From the OP for your benefit unedited

Man to man the squads look so similar in style.

Enforcer or quickest bowler in terms of pace in the team. (Meaning their respective teams)

again, not comparing the 2 but similar role,

Padh liya karo chadda saab

 

[Local.Dada]

That Pak 99 team was an ideal white ball combo for any team to follow to be honest. Also had the right set of players.

 

[ElRaja]

Pak 90s team is just joy and hurt for pak fans, who lived through that era, joy because they were so talented it was sometimes just a joke watching them win games they had no right to win, and hurt because they had the ethical fortitude of a starving lawyer. the damage they did to the fan base, the investment in the sport and the emotional buyin of the fans by throwing so many games left lasting scars on the countrys psyche. it fostered crazy internal politics and took nepotism to a whole new level which culminated in the absolute shambles which was the 2003 world cup.

that was the end of pakistan as a force in odi cricket, the wholesale replacement of that squad with bits and pieces players set the tempo for the following 3 or 4 years, and when pak tried to go back to making a team of specialists, there wasnt any left.

*for those people who like to beleive otherwise, the qayyum reports are damnign enough of what was happening, but in my years since ive met people very closely involved in the lahore cricketing scene, and qayyum only scratched thesurface of the scale of what was happening

 

[SportsWarrior]

Shoaib Akhtar will burn all his trophies after reading the OP

Thankfully he has no ICC trophies

 

[harshjoshi87]

There can't be any comparison as the '99 Pakistan team was selected for 50 overs version while the 2025 Indian team is playing the T20 format.

The '99 Pakistan WC squad can be more compared to '23 India WC squad, but India didn't have a left arm fast bowler in that team.

 

[BouncerGuy]

No comparison at all... One team was in top form in an era when there was not concept of T20 cricket... Other team won t20 event..

LOL at this comparison.

 

[BouncerGuy]

STOP DERAILING THE THREAD WITH FIXING STUFF...

STAY ON TOPIC NOW

 

[Hitman]

No comparison at all... One team was in top form in an era when there was not concept of T20 cricket... Other team won t20 event..

LOL at this comparison.

Don't think Pakistan was in top form during that World Cup. They lost to India, Bangladesh, South Africa and Australia.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Don't think Pakistan was in top form during that World Cup. They lost to India, Bangladesh, South Africa and Australia.

That was the best Pakistan team that should have won that WC... Strong on paper.

 

[mominsaigol]

Saeed Anwar vs Abhishek Sharma- Dashing power play left handed attacking bats

Inziman vs Shubman Gill- Elegant players who are pleasing to the eye when batting in flow but can be lazy at times

Azhar Mahmood vs Hardik Pandya- Allrounder

Abdul Razzaq vs Shivam Dube- Hard hitting allrounder

Moin Khan vs Sanju Samson- batsman who can hit big 6s in the middle + keeper

Wasim Akram vs Arshdeep Singh- again, not comparing the 2 but similar role, new ball wickets and death bowing

Shoaib Akthar vs Harshit Rana- Enforcer or quickest bowler in terms of pace in the team.

Waqar Younis vs Bumrah- Yorker specialists and strike bowlers

Ijaz Ahmed vs Surya Kumar Yadav- similar unorthodox but quick scoring batsmen.


Saqlain Mushtaq vs Varun Chakravarthy- finger spinner

Mushtaq Ahmed vs Kuldeep Yadav- wrist spinner

Shahid Afridi vs Axar Patel- hard hitting spin allrounders.

Yusuf vs Tilak Verma- young future prospect

Wajahtullah wasti vs Jitesh Sharma- Extra utility players.

Saleem Malik vs Rinku Singh - players who can play attacking or defensive based on situation.


Man to man the squads look so similar in style. Wonder which team will in a hypothetical scenario.

Lol? This indian team was geared for t20 while Pakistan 1999 was geared for odi? What comparison is this?

Pakistan team will obviously win since the likes of Abhishek, Surya, Rinku aren't geared towards odi and tilak verma is fresh out of the water.

2025 Indian odi team would beat 1999 Pakistan odi team however.

This indian team in t20 isnt that strong as people are making it out to be. They struggled against Pakistan in the final despite PK being a team of tullas.

Tied with Sri lanka and won in the super over only.

 

[harshjoshi87]

That was the best Pakistan team that should have won that WC... Strong on paper.

No the '96 one was much stronger.

 

[Red-Indian]

Lol? This indian team was geared for t20 while Pakistan 1999 was geared for odi? What comparison is this?

Pakistan team will obviously win since the likes of Abhishek, Surya, Rinku aren't geared towards odi and tilak verma is fresh out of the water.

2025 Indian odi team would beat 1999 Pakistan odi team however.

This indian team in t20 isnt that strong as people are making it out to be. They struggled against Pakistan in the final despite PK being a team of tullas.

Tied with Sri lanka and won in the super over only.

I would rather say the 2023 India ODI cricket team was an incredible collection of talent - in the reckoning for the greatest ever assembled in ODIs

- The greatest ODI batter of all time
- One of the top 3 ODI openers of all time
- Young talents in Gill & Iyer.
- A great wicketkeeper bat in Rahul
- Two all time great allrounders in Hardik and Jadeja
- An all time great ODI spinner
- Possibly the greatest ever World Cup pacer
- India's greatest ever quick and of the top 5 of all time

A freak pitch, injury and batter came together to deny it's destiny.

A lot of greats there but well deserved.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Lol? This indian team was geared for t20 while Pakistan 1999 was geared for odi? What comparison is this?

Pakistan team will obviously win since the likes of Abhishek, Surya, Rinku aren't geared towards odi and tilak verma is fresh out of the water.

2025 Indian odi team would beat 1999 Pakistan odi team however.

This indian team in t20 isnt that strong as people are making it out to be. They struggled against Pakistan in the final despite PK being a team of tullas.

Tied with Sri lanka and won in the super over only.

India haven't lost a T20I series yet, the top 3 didn't take score of 147 in the final seriously.

The 5 match Australia T20I series will show exactly where this current World Champion Indian team stands as they are facing #2 T20I team in their own backyard.

Hope you attend one of the matches supporting your new country wearing green & gold Aussie jersey.

 

[mominsaigol]

India haven't lost a T20I series yet, the top 3 didn't take score of 147 in the final seriously.

The 5 match Australia T20I series will show exactly where this current World Champion Indian team stands as they are facing #2 T20I team in their own backyard.

Hope you attend one of the matches supporting your new country wearing green & gold Aussie jersey.

What does that have to do with 1999 Pakistan vs 2025 India?

2025 India team is geared for t20 and 1999 pk team is geared for ODI which is why this thread is non sensical?

Lol I've been supporting Australia since 2020 . I even verbatim stated that Pak no 1 and aus no 2 for me granted I should make Aus no 1 with the way things are going.

I obtained my citizenship long ago and I'm a dual citizen. Don't know why you're saying New? This is old news.

 

[mominsaigol]

What does that have to do with 1999 Pakistan vs 2025 India?

2025 India team is geared for t20 and 1999 pk team is geared for ODI which is why this thread is non sensical?

Lol I've been supporting Australia since 2020 . I even verbatim stated that Pak no 1 and aus no 2 for me granted I should make Aus no 1 with the way things are going.

I obtained my citizenship long ago and I'm a dual citizen. Don't know why you're saying New? This is old news.

2025 asia cup team i meant.

The 2025 odi team for India beats 1999 Pakistan

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Interesting comparison but it's impossible to meaningfully compare given how the game has changed across eras.

That Pakistani side was one of the best I'd seen as a fan, and it was a wonderful world cup too. ODI cricket was more competitive then.

Pakistan had a good side, as did South Africa and the Aussies were building an all time great side but the other sides were also reasonable competitive.

In LOIs in the modern era India and Australia have pulled quite far ahead of the others.

 

[mominsaigol]

I would rather say the 2023 India ODI cricket team was an incredible collection of talent - in the reckoning for the greatest ever assembled in ODIs

- The greatest ODI batter of all time
- One of the top 3 ODI openers of all time
- Young talents in Gill & Iyer.
- A great wicketkeeper bat in Rahul
- Two all time great allrounders in Hardik and Jadeja
- An all time great ODI spinner
- Possibly the greatest ever World Cup pacer
- India's greatest ever quick and of the top 5 of all time

A freak pitch, injury and batter came together to deny it's destiny.

A lot of greats there but well deserved.

The 2023 ODI team would get mauled black and blue by classic Australia in any den not named India left and right.

Mcgrath is > Bumrah and everyone and their mama knows this, minus die hard indian fans.

Kohli in 2023 was only gun in his own den, as an odi batsmen kohli is below 2003-2007 Ponting. Kohli from 2014-2017 era is > Ponting 100%.

The wicketkeeper aren't anywhere close to Gilchrist, barring bumrah the rest of the pace attack is a joke compared to aus ans warne is > their spinners.

2023 India can only beat Classic Aus in India. Any other den they will get annihilated black and blue.

Classic Aus is still the strongest team I have seen. Classic WI is overrated instead. Classic WI came in an era where the rest of the world was crap and hence they intimated the others, excluding Viv, Sobers and some of their pace bowlers they weren't that great.

 

[TheSultan]

This thread is an example that you shouldn’t be anywhere near a keyboard when drunk

 

[Suleiman]

99 ODI team is vastly overrated, gifted players with no unity and out to screw over each other will underperform against a slightly less equipped team with excellent synergy. This is a team sport at the end of the day. That is why India beat them in 99 as well despite being inferior as a team.

The best team that Pakistan ever sent to an ODI WC was the ‘89 WC team. Pak fans underrate that squad and overrate the ‘99 squad.

 

[Hitman]

That was the best Pakistan team that should have won that WC... Strong on paper.

No the '96 one was much stronger.

I agree. The 96' WC team was stronger.

 

[TheSultan]

99 ODI team is vastly overrated, gifted players with no unity and out to screw over each other will underperform against a slightly less equipped team with excellent synergy. This is a team sport at the end of the day. That is why India beat them in 99 as well despite being inferior as a team.

The best team that Pakistan ever sent to an ODI WC was the ‘89 WC team. Pak fans underrate that squad and overrate the ‘99 squad.

1. What evidence do you have the team was not united in 99? You can say that about 2003, but not 99.

2. In retrospect, everyone keeps looking at that India 99 game now, but at the time, it wasn’t important in the grand scheme of the World Cup, and wasim himself said at the toss that “this is a practice game for us”. No one was thinking about “World Cup records”. Pakistan didn’t really think much about India at the time, they’d played India a lot in the preceding 12 months and had beaten them more times than they cared to remember

3. You can question the intentions of the team - as they did some dodgy things in tournaments after they played hard in the initial phases. There would be a drop off in performances once Pakistan had done the hard work trying to qualify for the next stage. Look at the Sharjah Coca Cola cup prior to the tournament as well as the World Cup itself.

4. You can question the intentions of the team, but the quality was excellent. There were some technical issues with the batting, but that was across the board for a lot of teams. It was a low scoring tournament on seaming pitches - which probably added to the excitement of the tournament.

5. The final itself was an abomination, but sometimes you can’t stop a juggernaut with momentum. Pakistan had it in 92 and Aus had it in 1999. But yes, Pakistan could have played better. Even if they did, I don’t think anyone was going to deny Australia that year - seemed like destiny.

6. What ‘89 World Cup are you talking about? The World Cup was in 87 and yes it was an excellent team that had an excellent chance of winning the whole thing.

 

[Hitman]

99 ODI team is vastly overrated, gifted players with no unity and out to screw over each other will underperform against a slightly less equipped team with excellent synergy. This is a team sport at the end of the day. That is why India beat them in 99 as well despite being inferior as a team.

The best team that Pakistan ever sent to an ODI WC was the ‘89 WC team. Pak fans underrate that squad and overrate the ‘99 squad.

There was no ODI WC in 1989.

 

[Hitman]

Anyways, I still can't decide which is my favorite Pakistan ODI World Cup match between them -

1. Pak vs Aus, SF, 1987 WC.

2. Pak vs Ind, QF, 1996 WC.

3. Pak vs Aus, Final, 1999 WC.

4. Pak vs Ind, 2003 WC.

5. Pak vs Ind, SF, 2011 WC.​

 

[Varun]

2. In retrospect, everyone keeps looking at that India 99 game now, but at the time, it wasn’t important in the grand scheme of the World Cup, and wasim himself said at the toss that “this is a practice game for us”. No one was thinking about “World Cup records”. Pakistan didn’t really think much about India at the time, they’d played India a lot in the preceding 12 months and had beaten them more times than they cared to remember.

Is this a fact?

That India v Pakistan game happened weeks after Kargil - I'm sure neither side took it lightly.

 

[Devadwal]

Anyways, I still can't decide which is my favorite Pakistan ODI World Cup match between them -

1. Pak vs Aus, SF, 1987 WC.

2. Pak vs Ind, QF, 1996 WC.

3. Pak vs Aus, Final, 1999 WC.

4. Pak vs Ind, 2003 WC.

5. Pak vs Ind, SF, 2011 WC.​

For me 2011 > 2003 > 96

 

[Hitman]

Is this a fact?

That India v Pakistan game happened weeks after Kargil - I'm sure neither side took it lightly.

Every match they lose against India is ODI WC's is a practise match. I wish their captains declared every match against India in an ODI WC's a practise match during toss. That way they could have given justification of their lungi being pulled by India in every WC.​

 

[Hitman]

Is this a fact?

That India v Pakistan game happened weeks after Kargil - I'm sure neither side took it lightly.

Just like how Ajay Jadeja smashed Waqar Younis in the 96' WC, and Sachin Tendulkar amashed their fast bowlers in the 03' WC.

 

[Rajdeep]

Is this a fact?

That India v Pakistan game happened weeks after Kargil - I'm sure neither side took it lightly.

Wasim Bhai took the 99 game against India as practice match, sat down on 96 QF probably thinking that was another practice match too and got tonked all over the park by Sachin in 92 and 03.

 

[Energy]

The teams are comparable, but as a Pakistan fan this comparison can only make you sad in every aspect. For how long will we cling on to nostalgia?

 

[Devadwal]

99 Pakistan team lost to India while 2025 Indian Team smashed Pakistan 3-0

 

[TheSultan]

Is this a fact?

That India v Pakistan game happened weeks after Kargil - I'm sure neither side took it lightly.

It is a fact that wasim said “this is a practice match”. If you can get hold of the interview at the toss, you will find it.

 

[harshjoshi87]

For me 2011 > 2003 > 96

For me 1996 > 1999 > 2003

 

[harshjoshi87]

2. In retrospect, everyone keeps looking at that India 99 game now, but at the time, it wasn’t important in the grand scheme of the World Cup, and wasim himself said at the toss that “this is a practice game for us”. No one was thinking about “World Cup records”. Pakistan didn’t really think much about India at the time, they’d played India a lot in the preceding 12 months and had beaten them more times than they cared to remember.

If I remember correctly, Sachin Tendulkar was injured, didn't play the tri-series in India as well as the tri-series that followed in Sharjah.

Ajay Jadeja led an inexperienced Indian side without even Azhar & Ganguly in the tri-series in India.

India won 1 out of 2 league matches in tri-series in Sharjah. In the final, 2 controversial lbw appeals were given by the umpires against India at the start of their innings.

India won the match which mattered the most in - the 1999 World Cup Super Six match which was played in the background of the Kargil war.

 

[harshjoshi87]

What does that have to do with 1999 Pakistan vs 2025 India?

2025 India team is geared for t20 and 1999 pk team is geared for ODI which is why this thread is non sensical?

Lol I've been supporting Australia since 2020 . I even verbatim stated that Pak no 1 and aus no 2 for me granted I should make Aus no 1 with the way things are going.

I obtained my citizenship long ago and I'm a dual citizen. Don't know why you're saying New? This is old news.

I thought you got your PR just a few days back.

 

[mominsaigol]

I thought you got your PR just a few days back.

No, you are misremembering. Check what i said again

 

[Red-Indian]

The 2023 ODI team would get mauled black and blue by classic Australia in any den not named India left and right.

Mcgrath is > Bumrah and everyone and their mama knows this, minus die hard indian fans.

Kohli in 2023 was only gun in his own den, as an odi batsmen kohli is below 2003-2007 Ponting. Kohli from 2014-2017 era is > Ponting 100%.

The wicketkeeper aren't anywhere close to Gilchrist, barring bumrah the rest of the pace attack is a joke compared to aus ans warne is > their spinners.

2023 India can only beat Classic Aus in India. Any other den they will get annihilated black and blue.

Classic Aus is still the strongest team I have seen. Classic WI is overrated instead. Classic WI came in an era where the rest of the world was crap and hence they intimated the others, excluding Viv, Sobers and some of their pace bowlers they weren't that great.

A lot we could discuss there but I'm surprised you rate Gillespie or Fleming over Mohammed Shami as an ODI bowler.

Especially in World Cups, there's almost no-one I'd rather have. McGrath yes but reluctantly. Over 3 World Cups Shami has 55 wickets at an economy of 5 and a freaking average of 13.5. He's a monster on that stage. Combined with Bumrah, it's an insanely good duo.

The rest is a good debate but even the fact that we're having the debate against THAT team shows how good the 2023 ODI India team was and what a travesty it was that they didn't win.

 

[mominsaigol]

A lot we could discuss there but I'm surprised you rate Gillespie or Fleming over Mohammed Shami as an ODI bowler.

Especially in World Cups, there's almost no-one I'd rather have. McGrath yes but reluctantly. Over 3 World Cups Shami has 55 wickets at an economy of 5 and a freaking average of 13.5. He's a monster on that stage. Combined with Bumrah, it's an insanely good duo.

The rest is a good debate but even the fact that we're having the debate against THAT team shows how good the 2023 ODI India team was and what a travesty it was that they didn't win.

Shami in Asia and India > yes. Not in Other dens. Like I said, 2023 India is beating Classic Aus in an indian den.

In Asian dens it'll be a close encounter. In any sena den, India is getting fried into a crisp.

 

[Mesozoic]

He doesn't have any ICC trophies

Thankfully he has no ICC trophies

Laughed way too hard at these replies.

 

[harshjoshi87]

No, you are misremembering. Check what i said again

Okay my bad, let's not derail the thread

 

[SportsWarrior]

Laughed way too hard at these replies.

Shoaib Akrhar is a prime example of how “speed is speed yaar” attitude has hurt Pakistan over the years. Akther was a good bowler, but throughout his career he never excelled when needed and never won Pak anything substantial. Kumar Patel, Sreesanth and even Zaheeer khan all considered meh by Pakistanis have all contributed to winning an ICC trophy

 

[saimayubera]

Shoaib Akrhar is a prime example of how “speed is speed yaar” attitude has hurt Pakistan over the years. Akther was a good bowler, but throughout his career he never excelled when needed and never won Pak anything substantial. Kumar Patel, Sreesanth and even Zaheeer khan all considered meh by Pakistanis have all contributed to winning an ICC trophy

Multiple

 

[Buffet]

Why will you compare T20 team with ODI team?

 

[saimayubera]

Lol? This indian team was geared for t20 while Pakistan 1999 was geared for odi? What comparison is this?

Pakistan team will obviously win since the likes of Abhishek, Surya, Rinku aren't geared towards odi and tilak verma is fresh out of the water.

2025 Indian odi team would beat 1999 Pakistan odi team however.

This indian team in t20 isnt that strong as people are making it out to be. They struggled against Pakistan in the final despite PK being a team of tullas.

Tied with Sri lanka and won in the super over only.

What happens when one goes off cricinfo.

Dube/Bumrah were rested and Pandya bowled only one over. With the main team it would have been an easy 30-40 run win.

And India DID NOT struggle in the final. Top order took it lightly so were 20-3 but then MO took over. 47 in 5 overs with 5 wickets remaining is child's play. India also had batting till 8. Match was over then.

 

[saimayubera]

2025 Indian T20 team are world champions (only team to ever win it undefeated) as well as ranked no 1 and have a 35-3 record in the last 2 years.

1999 Pak ODI team isn't.

 

[Local.Dada]

This indian team in t20 isnt that strong as people are making it out to be. They struggled against Pakistan in the final despite PK being a team of tullas.

That’s the wrong way of judging a team. Oh this team or that team came close etc is not a benchmark.

What makes a world beating team is a team that wins from any position. In the 90s the all conquering assuie team also found themselves in trouble many times and they would find a way to win from incredible positions.

Just because Oman scored a few runs against India or Pak- SL ran us close means Jack. In T20 any team can have a few good overs and be on top. It’s how the team find its way to win matters in the end . Pak team of 2025 was not mentally strong, that’s why probably their skills and fitness gave up on them but a strong team like India will find a way to win.