Was the Pakistan team for the 1996 tour of England its best Test team, ever?

[MenInG]

The likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Salim Malik, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq - reads like a who's who of Pakistan cricket but was this the best Test team produced by Pakistan, ever?

This was no ordinary team; Each of the players was easily capable of winning any game by himself, let alone with help of other match winners. In a sense, the furstration by some in the English press was probably a feeling of helplessness at being confronted with such a squad of players.

Opinions?

 

[todfod 11]

I think the one who travelled in 2006 was a great team for test.
Inzy
yousuf
Younis
razzaq
yasir hameed
shoaib
Asif
kaneria..

 

[todfod 11]

Also the one who travelled in 2001 was a great side as well.. just that Akram and waqar were ageing

 

[Zaz]

Yes, pretty much on paper all the stars were around their peak of their powers or just either side of it

Anwar
Sohail
Ijaz
inzamam
S Malik
6th batsman
Rashid/Moin
Wasim
Waqar
Mushtaq
3rd seamer

There were only 2 real weak links who played like revolving doors, the third seamer ata ur rehman and m akram and 6th batter s kabir and a mujtaba, apart from that all basis were covered by top quality

 

[Markhor]

Not the best Test side we ever had (that would be the team of the 80s under Imran), but probably the best Test side we had in the 90s. The balance of the team was good and our players were mostly in their primes though Waqar was only a few years after his stress fracture.

The team for once was harmonious and united behind the captain Wasim. We bossed the series against England, and dominated the dozen or so tour matches (when tour matches were still a thing) up and down the country where we were a popular attraction.

Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq scored two glorious hundreds at The Oval and Lord's whilst Waqar and Mushy rolled the English over with reverse swing and quality leg spin - a formula we still use to good effect in England.

There were no on field controversies or fractiousness we saw in 1992 which was partly down to the positive relationship between the two skippers Wasim and Atherton - two Lancashire teammates, and Bumble was Wasim's coach at Lancashire who had moved into the England job.

Wasim was blasted by the media after the 1996 World Cup and his no-show against India in the QF but he led the team superbly here.

 

[Markhor]

I think the one who travelled in 2006 was a great team for test.
Inzy
yousuf
Younis
razzaq
yasir hameed
shoaib
Asif
kaneria..

We had a terrific middle order but the bowling was weakened due to the loss of Asif (who missed the first three Tests) and Akhtar. Hence we conceded big totals in almost every game relying on a seam attack consisting of Sami, Gul and Shahid Nazir.

 

[hitthestump]

On paper it was a great team. In reality we forget about the inconsistency and off field antics which meant this generation never came close to fulfilling their potential.

 

[barah_admi]

Which touring side was it that went unbeaten in England, 92 or 96? Anyway, in that early to mid 90s period, this Pakistan team was terrific in the longer format, especially in England. It is just sad that such a list of great names never managed a victory over Australia or Windies.

 

[gazza619]

Yeah i think the 1996 team was indeed the best team, there wasnt any loopholes in the line up. I reckon if those men had worked as hard as Mickey Arthur’s boys nowadays they would have white washed every team in the world during those days. But unfortunately egos, match fixing and infighting made it impossible to give consistent performances.

 

[Hasan123]

Team under Imran was probably the best.

 

[Saj]

When I think back about so many of these great teams of the past, littered with great names and legends of the game - one thing is clearly evident and that is the egos and player power. There was so much politics and back-biting which affected the performances of the team.

 

[happydavy]

The kind of talent Pakistan team had compared to other teams of 90s, Pakistan shud have won much more than what they did. Unfortunately when we look back, 90s was the worst time for cricket fans for all across the world but esp. Asian fans because we just didn't know how many matches were fixed even before the first ball was bowled.