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Watching the Pakistan-Afghanistan game exposes the lack of world class talent in Pakistan

It's a very popular myth that Pakistan were a weak team heading into the 1992 tournament but people couldn't be more wrong. Their journey for sure could have been more smooth during the tournament itself but had Pakistan obliterated their way to a World Cup triumph there would be no surprises. Pakistan was arguably the best team in the world at that time if not in the top 2 at the very least with Australia being the only team to better their W/L ratio over five years coming into the WC.

In the 1989 Nehru cup Pakistan beat the likes of India, England and then the West Indies in the final after Imran's heroics with the ball. Moreover they won 5 tournaments in Sharjah prior to the 92 WC and lost just 2 series at home over a 5 year period to England and the West Indies. It's funny how the 1992 performance almost always is used as a metric to give poor Pakistani teams a prayer, but the fact is that side was absolute quality and a well oiled machine despite their horrid start, it further cements their strength/depth that even after falling behind they were able to catch up.

The current team is not entering the 2019 WC as one of the best teams in the world unlike Imran's cornered tigers of 1992, in-fact they are one of the worst Pakistani sides to enter a World Cup based on form alone so I think people need to adjust their expectations which are not realistic and don't really help the team. But there is enough quality to work with for the future and we should enjoy this tournament regardless :)
Good observation.

I cannot think of one player from the current Pakistan squad who would have been picked in the 92 squad, apart from Babar Azam may be.
 
It's a very popular myth that Pakistan were a weak team heading into the 1992 tournament but people couldn't be more wrong. Their journey for sure could have been more smooth during the tournament itself but had Pakistan obliterated their way to a World Cup triumph there would be no surprises. Pakistan was arguably the best team in the world at that time if not in the top 2 at the very least with Australia being the only team to better their W/L ratio over five years coming into the WC.

In the 1989 Nehru cup Pakistan beat the likes of India, England and then the West Indies in the final after Imran's heroics with the ball. Moreover they won 5 tournaments in Sharjah prior to the 92 WC and lost just 2 series at home over a 5 year period to England and the West Indies. It's funny how the 1992 performance almost always is used as a metric to give poor Pakistani teams a prayer, but the fact is that side was absolute quality and a well oiled machine despite their horrid start, it further cements their strength/depth that even after falling behind they were able to catch up.

The current team is not entering the 2019 WC as one of the best teams in the world unlike Imran's cornered tigers of 1992, in-fact they are one of the worst Pakistani sides to enter a World Cup based on form alone so I think people need to adjust their expectations which are not realistic and don't really help the team. But there is enough quality to work with for the future and we should enjoy this tournament regardless :)

That Imran Khan team was battle hardened, had won games from difficult positions and had faced quality teams like Australia, West Indies. Imran used to sit out against teams like NZ because he felt cheated that they sent a weak team to Pakistan.
 
It may not necessarily have improved them because ultimately it comes down to talent and hard work, and some of the players would have eventually lost their contracts as well if they wouldn’t have performed, but playing in the IPL would have done them no harm.

World class teammates, opposition, high scoring pitches, high pressure matched and intense crowds etc. it is an ideal platform for any hungry and committed cricketer.

I also think it could have prevented someone like Amir from doing spot-fixing. He was a hot shot in 2009-2010, and playing in the 2010 IPL could have prevented him from going down the route of bowling no balls for payment.

I doubt - Ajay Jadeja is a prince of Jamnagar .... it’s not about the volume of money, rather the values you build in someone (here player). I have seen PAK players even 20 years back openly talking about underperforming at club cricket for cash (trust me - I have caught couple my self) ... for them, losing a match by underperforming is just another business deal - he is purchasable for the highest bidder. And this guys are religious, quite honest as well - but, they don’t have any concept of integrity by a sportsman.

I would say this is because of playing lots of dirty games in domestics, these Ramadan cups, and other such tournaments by top players who can single handed change a game at that level (means purchasing one is often enough to win a game) and what not - this has taught players to compromise their integrity. Also, a PAK domestic player, in a season plays at least for 5/6 different teams, under different captains - that ownership, that bondage, that pride of possession never develops in such system. Do you think it was just skills or tactics for those Liverpool players in that famous night at Istanbul or recently at Anfield?

Money can’t buy that passion of fighting for a shirt (or cap), but money indeed can by something one doesn’t own. It’s not about how much you are paid, rather what’s the price of your integrity, your passion - this mercenary style domestic cricket won’t ever develop that; doesn’t matter even if you can pay them like NBA.
 
I had a hunch we will be embarrassed at the WC but to this level never in my wildest dreams.



Thank you Inzi, Mickey and Sarfaraz. Special honour for Azhar Mahmood.

Bhai ab to ghar waale match dekhne pe taané maarne lage hain. Kehte hain kabhi to jeet lo :facepalm: yesterday was too much. It was simply embarrassing as a fan.
 
Bhai ab to ghar waale match dekhne pe taané maarne lage hain. Kehte hain kabhi to jeet lo :facepalm: yesterday was too much. It was simply embarrassing as a fan.

I feel you bro same story my moms like they lost to Afghanistan when did Afghanistan start playing cricket lmao
 
Its not ideal to lose to Afghanistan...
but its a non starter in the sense that its a meaningless game.
If we lose to them on 29th June...then I'll be worried.
I'm quite optomistic about our performance in the world cup, despite the fact that we dont have a great team...which is a fact.
I think out of the 15 out there, with the exception of Fakhar, Babar and Shadab everyone is either mediocre and the odd one out of touch.
 
But but Javed Miandad says we don't need to reform the domestic system and that we must retain the departments so mediocre cricketers can make a living with zero accountability for performance.
 
Getting out of PCB’s shadow and playing under BCCI has been the best thing that has happened to Afghanistan cricket.

They have access to world class coaching, facilities and infrastructure, and their brightest young talents get tremendous exposure in the IPL.

Perhaps we should be less harsh on Pakistan team then, their players are unable to get access to the same sort of experience for past few years now. No doubt that and the lack of cricket at home must have had a negative impact for the very same reason Indian support has had a positive one for Afghanistan.
 
Nonsense post by this OP.

If there is no domestic structure from where did Fakhar Zaman fell from? The sky?
A 34 averaging Imam playing in international cricket while 50+average domestic players can't even play for Pakistan A side, whose fault is it?

These nonsense hypocritical posts just to support that nepotistic cheater Inzamam.
 
Plenty of talent not just in pak team but all the teams in the wc! Alot of negative posts and the tournament hasnt even started. Come on guys, be positive, i reckon this wc is going to be a cracker!
 
Talent is still here but they need a good system and competent coaches and selector.
Hasan was MoS in CT17 but he never improves his game more with time

Shadab probably need 2,3 season of 1st class cricket so he can improve his bowling as well as batting
 
Nonsense post by this OP.

If there is no domestic structure from where did Fakhar Zaman fell from? The sky?
A 34 averaging Imam playing in international cricket while 50+average domestic players can't even play for Pakistan A side, whose fault is it?

These nonsense hypocritical posts just to support that nepotistic cheater Inzamam.

Imam's averaging 60 in International Cricket.
 
Defeat from Afghanistan a year today in the warm up at Bristol. Babar Azam making 3 figures. Wahab bowling well on comeback.
 
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