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What is your favourite cricket related 'what if'?

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Rahul1

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For example - What if Canada had accepted test status offered to them in the 1950s by (then) Imperial Cricket Conference?

The world of cricket might be completely different compared to what we see now.
 
What if Misbah hadn't played that shot off Joginder Sharma? Could have been so different.
 
'What if' Partition never happened.. combined Indo-Pak team would have been more successful than WI of 80's and AUS of 2000's :19:
 
What if....... Pakistan and India meet in the tournament final of a major world event and Pakistan dish out the most epic of phaintis to break all records....................Oh wait
 
What if Imran Khan never became a cricketer?

Would Pakistani cricket have died out a slow death like Hockey did?
 
What if guys like Afridi and Imran Nazir actually improved the defense part of their batting.

What if Amir and Asif never spot fixed.

What if Saeed Anwar didn't retire prematurely.

What if there were HD cameras in 1950s then we could actually judge how good the OGs like Bradman really were.

What if I could bowl at 110mph and score six 6s in every over. WHAT IF!
 
If I have to think of a what if moment then the one thing that comes to mind is.. what if misbah didn't go for that scoop in the 2007 t20 WC finals
 
What if..... Ian Botham had worked on his fitness instead of relying on his huge natural ability.
 
What if Pakistan had won 1992 world cup match against India? Would our then on record in world cups against arch rivals be different?

What if Pakistan had won 1996 QF at Banglore, would Pakistan have beaten Sri Lanka and played final at Lahore and won? First team to win ODI WC Final at home?
 
Sirris said:
What if guys like Afridi and Imran Nazir actually improved the defense part of their batting.

What if Amir and Asif never spot fixed.

What if Saeed Anwar didn't retire prematurely.

What if there were HD cameras in 1950s then we could actually judge how good the OGs like Bradman really were.

What if I could bowl at 110mph and score six 6s in every over. WHAT IF!
Click to expand...

Do Pakistanis actually believe that Afridi had any 'potential'?
 
hadi123 said:
What if Misbah hadn't played that shot off Joginder Sharma? Could have been so different.
Click to expand...

In recent times this definitely comes to the mind instantly... IPL would not be existing now oh the impact it had!

Other recent:
What if Bumrah didn't bowl that no ball?
Where would amir have been now if he hadn't bowled that no ball?
Where would pak cricket have been standing right now if the 2009 terrorist incident had not happened? Would we have already hosted a whole ICC tournament and its finale?!
 
What if Abdul Razzaq had caught Tendulkar off Wasim in the 03’ WC match?

Cost the 2 W’s and Saeed Anwar a farewell match, Pakistan’s chances in the tournament, extended the streak to 4-0, made way for Inzi to become captain and exclude young members into the team which had been the long-standing tradition and lack of leadership in PAK cricket in LOI’s for 14 years.

Ushered Pakistan into its Dark Ages of Cricket. Spot-Fixing, lack of LOI success, drug-related controversies by Akhtar (who lost self-control once the 2 W’s left) and Asif, captaincy musical chairs, defensive approach installed into our current Test team.
 
Syed1 said:
What if....... Pakistan and India meet in the tournament final of a major world event and Pakistan dish out the most epic of phaintis to break all records....................Oh wait
Click to expand...

Savage [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] :))
 
ManFan said:
What if Abdul Razzaq had caught Tendulkar off Wasim in the 03’ WC match?

Cost the 2 W’s and Saeed Anwar a farewell match, Pakistan’s chances in the tournament, extended the streak to 4-0, made way for Inzi to become captain and exclude young members into the team which had been the long-standing tradition and lack of leadership in PAK cricket in LOI’s for 14 years.

Ushered Pakistan into its Dark Ages of Cricket. Spot-Fixing, lack of LOI success, drug-related controversies by Akhtar (who lost self-control once the 2 W’s left) and Asif, captaincy musical chairs, defensive approach installed into our current Test team.
Click to expand...

Catch or no catch - Inzy would have been made captain back in 2003/04 anyway...

So not sure how everything else you said could be drawn from Razzaq dropping that catch :13:
 
What if Sachin was caught by Misbah in Mohali?

What if Ajmal wasn't caught for his bowling action before the 2015 WC?

What if Sharjeel never fixed?
 
What if Mohammed Hafeez had to face a bowling attack of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner on a 1980s Sabina Park wicket? Could he make it past the first over and face the 2nd guy? My gut feeling is maybe once or twice every 100 attempts.
 
What if Shahid Afridi played under Imran Khan
 
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Syed1 said:
What if....... Pakistan and India meet in the tournament final of a major world event and Pakistan dish out the most epic of phaintis to break all records....................Oh wait
Click to expand...

That was true for me. Before the CT 2017, I would watch countless replays and highlights of the WT20 07 final and WC semi 2011 and wish for an alternative end :ssmith

Thankfully those days are over :sarf2

Ever have a bad day? Just watch Kohli's magnificent innings that day :amir2
 
AFM said:
That was true for me. Before the CT 2017, I would watch countless replays and highlights of the WT20 07 final and WC semi 2011 and wish for an alternative end :ssmith

Thankfully those days are over :sarf2

Ever have a bad day? Just watch Kohli's magnificent innings that day :amir2
Click to expand...

King Kohli truly set the stage on fire that day :sarf2
 
msb314 said:
Catch or no catch - Inzy would have been made captain back in 2003/04 anyway...

So not sure how everything else you said could be drawn from Razzaq dropping that catch :13:
Click to expand...

PCB would not have made Inzi captain had the 2 W’s not been dropped. Remember, Waqar was captain and Wasim has helped win an ODI series in AUS just a year before along with a Sharjah tournament.
 
What if Scotland beat the West Indies to qualify for the 2015 WC?

What if Rahat Ali didn't drop Shane Watson in the 2015 WC QF?

What if Misbah was a regular in the team earlier in his career?

What if Inzamam-ul-Haq was fit?
 
On the flip side:

What if it hadn't rained in Adelaide in 1992 vs England

What if Shannon Gabriel didn't have a brain fade in the penultimate over of the 3rd test in Roseau last year
 
AFM said:
That was true for me. Before the CT 2017, I would watch countless replays and highlights of the WT20 07 final and WC semi 2011 and wish for an alternative end :ssmith

Thankfully those days are over :sarf2

Ever have a bad day? Just watch Kohli's magnificent innings that day :amir2
Click to expand...

What if Pak had won 92 WC without any flukes, fans would be happier😁😁😁
 
Syed1 said:
King Kohli truly set the stage on fire that day :sarf2
Click to expand...

Why mentioned only Kohli when all Indian batsmen except Pandya failed in that match? Either Kohli is extremely great and capable batsman for you (then why troll him at every opportunity) or pure jealosy and burning inside?
 
What if India didn't win the first T20 WC? They had a very young team and what if they didn't even reach semis. Would IPL have happened in that case?
 
What if Pak won the 2011 SF against India and went to the final? Would the Hindi radicals let them play in Mumbai?
 
What if India and Pakistan didn't win their lucky world cups in 83 and 92? Would subcontinent still be cricket crazy?
 
What if Tendulakr scored his 100th hundred in mumbai in the WC final? Would he have retired right away?
 
PakSarZameen said:
What if Imran Khan never became a cricketer?

Would Pakistani cricket have died out a slow death like Hockey did?
Click to expand...

What.... There are other reasons for hockey slow death than the lack of role models
pakistan has produced far better hockey players than Imran.
Sardar and Shehbaz were world's best. Was Imran the world's best at his time. No. Viv, Marshall and even Lillee were better than him easily
 
ManFan said:
PCB would not have made Inzi captain had the 2 W’s not been dropped. Remember, Waqar was captain and Wasim has helped win an ODI series in AUS just a year before along with a Sharjah tournament.
Click to expand...

Weren't the two W's going to retire anyway after the 2003 WC?

Wasim was like 36 which is ancient for a fast bowler and Waqar was like 32 and well past his prime.
 
Of course, the Misbah scoop is the first instance that comes to the mind.
What if Aamir Sohail hadn’t sledged Prasad in 96 world cup only to lose 2 of his stumps the next delivery?
What if SRT had retired immediately after the world cup?
What if the trio hadn’t spot fixed and Butt remained captain for the next decade?
 
msb314 said:
Weren't the two W's going to retire anyway after the 2003 WC?

Wasim was like 36 which is ancient for a fast bowler and Waqar was like 32 and well past his prime.
Click to expand...

Waqar was 32 on paper. Didn’t look 32 at all. We have Shami these days masquerading as a youngtsa beauty.
 
what if Virat Kohli did not played epic phanti Innings against Pakistan in asia cup 2012 ?

would he called superstar today
 
good guy said:
what if Virat Kohli did not played epic phanti Innings against Pakistan in asia cup 2012 ?

would he called superstar today
Click to expand...

Kohli is super star because of his consistent performance vs AUS in AUS ..more than Pak, as Ind plays lot less with Pak these days :19:
 
What if Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock and Mike Procter were able to have full careers if there was no apartheid in South Africa? I am sure I am not alone with this nagging wish.
 
What if Misbah did not play that shot in the Joburg final?

What if Rahat had taken that catch?

What if the trio(especially Asif and Amir) did not fix?
 
BreadPakoda said:
Of course, the Misbah scoop is the first instance that comes to the mind.
What if Aamir Sohail hadn’t sledged Prasad in 96 world cup only to lose 2 of his stumps the next delivery?
What if SRT had retired immediately after the world cup?
What if the trio hadn’t spot fixed and Butt remained captain for the next decade?
Click to expand...

I wish he had retired after WC. He hurt his legacy big time by continuing for too long.
 
What if Inzi was as fit as YK
What if Lala valued his wicket
What if Misbah didn’t play THAT shot
 
What if the Aussies never used sandpaper?

What if Kamran Akmal had held onto one of the numerous catches off Michael Hussey in Sydney?

What if Ajmal had bowled with a brain in the 2010 T20 WC Semi?

What if Justin Langer had walked in Hobart?
 
clean n cool said:
In recent times this definitely comes to the mind instantly... IPL would not be existing now oh the impact it had!
Click to expand...

OoparCut said:
There's a definite argument to be made that IPL would not have come into existence in 2008.
Click to expand...

I don't understand why this myth continues to be propagated when it has been dispelled so many times. The IPL was not formed because Misbah happened to mis-hit a scoop and Sreesanth held onto the catch.

The IPL was officially announced on September 13, 2007 - 11 days before the World T20 2007 Final.

India winning the World T20 had absolutely nothing to do with the IPL. Lalit Modi rightfully saw the future of the game in the T20 format, and was able to sell the idea and the concept to investors like SRK, Ambani, Vijay Mallya, India Cements etc.

These people did not get out of their couches and decided to pump their money because Misbah's shot found the fielder.

In addition, BCCI's motivation to sabotage the ICL was another reason that spurred the creation of the IPL in 2007-2008. I don't know why some people derive gratification from the comical myth that Misbah is somehow responsible for the IPL.
 
Rahul1 said:
Do Pakistanis actually believe that Afridi had any 'potential'?
Click to expand...

A guy with over 8000 ODI runs and almost 400 wickets never had any potential?

Back on topic, lots of what ifs...can't really pick a fave but what if the rain had not intervened in the 1992 world cup, would England have a trophy in the cabinet?

What if Akhtar had been more disciplined and not so injury prone, could he have ended his career even better than he did?

What if Cook and Prior had not stabbed KP in the back? Would he have made 10k runs in tests and had a more complete ODI career?
 
What if India and BCCI had not cheated the hawk eye review of Tendulkar lbw to Ajmal in Mohali 2011
 
sully3 said:
What if India and BCCI had not cheated the hawk eye review of Tendulkar lbw to Ajmal in Mohali 2011
Click to expand...

Since BCCI had the technology to tinker with the system and generate a fake ball path in a matter of seconds, why didn't they do it for the Sehwag LBW vs Wahab?

The ball just about managed to pitch in line with the leg-stump, and making it pitch outside the leg-stump would have been easier to achieve than the Tendulkar LBW, which was apparently crashing into the middle-stump as per the conspiracy theorists.

Sehwag was beating the daylight out of our bowlers and had he stayed at the crease for 10 more overs, the game would have been out of Pakistan's reach and India would have won by a big margin.

BCCI cheated because they wanted Tendulkar to get to his 100th ton in a World Cup Semifinal vs Pakistan. My question to you is, why didn't they do the same for Sehwag?

The most dangerous batsman in the team and someone who had given Pakistani bowlers nightmares throughout his career, and was doing exactly the same in that match?
 
What if Pak wins any tournament without any luck and rain 😁😝 There fans will atleast show off more about real victories.
 
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Mamoon said:
Since BCCI had the technology to tinker with the system and generate a fake ball path in a matter of seconds, why didn't they do it for the Sehwag LBW vs Wahab?

The ball just about managed to pitch in line with the leg-stump, and making it pitch outside the leg-stump would have been easier to achieve than the Tendulkar LBW, which was apparently crashing into the middle-stump as per the conspiracy theorists.

Sehwag was beating the daylight out of our bowlers and had he stayed at the crease for 10 more overs, the game would have been out of Pakistan's reach and India would have won by a big margin.

BCCI cheated because they wanted Tendulkar to get to his 100th ton in a World Cup Semifinal vs Pakistan. My question to you is, why didn't they do the same for Sehwag?

The most dangerous batsman in the team and someone who had given Pakistani bowlers nightmares throughout his career, and was doing exactly the same in that match?
Click to expand...

Good analysis as always ..

BTW [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]....Long time no see :ds
 
Mamoon said:
I don't understand why this myth continues to be propagated when it has been dispelled so many times. The IPL was not formed because Misbah happened to mis-hit a scoop and Sreesanth held onto the catch.

The IPL was officially announced on September 13, 2007 - 11 days before the World T20 2007 Final.

India winning the World T20 had absolutely nothing to do with the IPL. Lalit Modi rightfully saw the future of the game in the T20 format, and was able to sell the idea and the concept to investors like SRK, Ambani, Vijay Mallya, India Cements etc.

These people did not get out of their couches and decided to pump their money because Misbah's shot found the fielder.

In addition, BCCI's motivation to sabotage the ICL was another reason that spurred the creation of the IPL in 2007-2008. I don't know why some people derive gratification from the comical myth that Misbah is somehow responsible for the IPL.
Click to expand...

While your dates are accurate...Lalit Modi did NOT come up with the idea of a T20 league nor anyone in BCCI for that matter. It was copied from ICL.
 
sshakir411 said:
While your dates are accurate...Lalit Modi did NOT come up with the idea of a T20 league nor anyone in BCCI for that matter. It was copied from ICL.
Click to expand...

As I said, the ICL certainly triggered the formation of the IPL.

In addition, while the idea may have been copied, BCCI were quick to recognize the potential growth in this format, and that is why they were able to sell the idea to big name investors.

Modi and the BCCI deserve credit for getting some of the richest people in India on board at a time when T20 cricket was still quite new, and the concept of franchise cricket was pretty novel.

Nonetheless, regardless of how much influence the ICL had, Misbah had absolutely nothing to do with it.
 
Mamoon said:
As I said, the ICL certainly triggered the formation of the IPL.

In addition, while the idea may have been copied, BCCI were quick to recognize the potential growth in this format, and that is why they were able to sell the idea to big name investors.

Modi and the BCCI deserve credit for getting some of the richest people in India on board at a time when T20 cricket was still quite new, and the concept of franchise cricket was pretty novel.

Nonetheless, regardless of how much influence the ICL had, Misbah had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Click to expand...

Lalit Modi and BCCI deserve credit for executing a stolen idea. Nothing in the IPL was original other than maybe introducing Bollywood.

Misbah had nothing to do with it...nor did India winning the 07 WC. I agree with you on that.
 
sshakir411 said:
Lalit Modi and BCCI deserve credit for executing a stolen idea. Nothing in the IPL was original other than maybe introducing Bollywood.

Misbah had nothing to do with it...nor did India winning the 07 WC. I agree with you on that.
Click to expand...

Well, T20 cricket itself is a stolen idea to begin with. ECB started it, and there are some claims that the concept originated in Pakistan in the late 90's but it never came to fruition.
 
What if ODI and T20 were invented in early 1900 and Bradman and others would have played it .
 
What if Mr Bucknor had given Symonds caught behind in Sydney 2008 test match? Would that have given India their first test series win in Australia?

What if Bumrah had not bowled that no ball? Would that change the outcome of CT 2017?

What if Shahid Afridi had not hit the fastest hundred? Where would he be?

What if Andrew Flintoff hadn't taken his shirt off in Mumbai?
 
1. What if Lance Klusener-Alan Donald had pinched the single that day in 1999 wc semi. Australia started one of the most dominant streaks after that triumph.

2. What if Misbah had opted for his usual safe shots to take the team home that day in 2007 wc final. Would India have still looked at the T20 model with the same interest they did after they won the inaugurual tourney against all odds. India were the least experienced T20 team in that tourney ironically.

3. What if Ganguly had opted to bat first in wc final 2003. The pitch was flat and India had the team to bat Australia out of the match. Australia actually were in a poor batting form going into the final. NZ, Sri Lanka, even Kenya had choked heir batting along the way.
 
Mamoon said:
I don't understand why this myth continues to be propagated when it has been dispelled so many times. The IPL was not formed because Misbah happened to mis-hit a scoop and Sreesanth held onto the catch.

The IPL was officially announced on September 13, 2007 - 11 days before the World T20 2007 Final.

India winning the World T20 had absolutely nothing to do with the IPL. Lalit Modi rightfully saw the future of the game in the T20 format, and was able to sell the idea and the concept to investors like SRK, Ambani, Vijay Mallya, India Cements etc.

These people did not get out of their couches and decided to pump their money because Misbah's shot found the fielder.

In addition, BCCI's motivation to sabotage the ICL was another reason that spurred the creation of the IPL in 2007-2008. I don't know why some people derive gratification from the comical myth that Misbah is somehow responsible for the IPL.
Click to expand...

Fair enough IPL would have existed even without Misbah's scoop shot but would it have had the same impact and be as much flourishing as it is currently without India getting a huge boost being the Inaugural T20 World Champions! That is the question.
 
What would Imran Khan's test wicket tally look like if he hadn't had that shin stress fracture that kept him out of bowling for nearly 3 years in the peak of his powers? :rabada2
 
Okay, maybe not so much as a favourite but significant nonetheless. What if Aamir Sohail hadn't taunted Venkatesh Prasad in the WC QF tie at Banglalore and not got clean bowled the next ball, could Pakistan have gone on and won the game?
 
What if Ponting hadn't played that inning in the 03' Final! Or rather, batted first in the freaking final after winning a toss! :dada (He again played similar inning QF, but thanks to Yuvi and Raina, we won)

What a tournament it was for India?
 
What if Bradman could bat in this era.

What if Pollock, Richards, Procter, Rice, etc had longer careers.

What if India Pakistan played an Ashes type series regularly.
 
What if Shoaib Akhtar didn't waste 3/4 of his career in controversies and injuries
 
good guy said:
what if Virat Kohli did not played epic phanti Innings against Pakistan in asia cup 2012 ?

would he called superstar today
Click to expand...

IMO Kohli became a superstar after his 133 against SL at Hobart in the 2012 VB series. It was at that point that India realized how insanely good he could become and be a clutch ODI run chaser throughout his career.
 
clean n cool said:
Fair enough IPL would have existed even without Misbah's scoop shot but would it have had the same impact and be as much flourishing as it is currently without India getting a huge boost being the Inaugural T20 World Champions! That is the question.
Click to expand...

To answer your question - 100% yes.

the IPL had far too many star players and commercial appeal to not be successful - regardless of how India performed in the 2007 World T20.

It was the first league of its kind and frankly everyone else including PSL, CPL, BPL Big Bash etc. have been trying to play catch ever since.
 
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