What would a World Cup win mean for Pakistan in 2019?

[gazza619]

I was so looking forward to the World Cup match between Pakistan and West Indies. It took me back to the memories of 1992. I was a little kid back then who was now falling in love with the game of cricket. I remember very clearly it was a Sunday. I tuned into PTV which was the only TV channel available for free viewing back then. Before the game there was an early morning show hosted by Mustansar Hussain Tarar (a well known TV host and author). He had shaved his head and this was his first appearance on TV with his new look. Never mind, there was a lot of positive talk ahead of the match. Pakistan batted first and scored a decent 220/2. On the day the score actually looked good considering the fact that how poorly Pakistan batted in the warm up games. WI eased its way to a 10 wicket win which was truly heart breaking. I read in the Jang newspaper next day that WI captain Richie Richardson had said that Pakistan bowling has become very weak, this really felt like rubbing salt into the wounds.

Now coming back to World Cup 2019. Though I knew very well that Pakistan’s chances are very thin but I belong to the generation who witnessed the peak of the 1990s and so I had no choice but to be positive.

We all saw what happened on Friday. We got bowled out for 105 in 21 odd overs. It was a disgrace and in some ways felt more humiliating then then the 10 wicket loss to West Indies in 1992. I have no problem in losing but to me the key factors are the manner in which the team fights, specially the tail enders.

I know there are still many positive posters on this forum (God bless them) who are hopeful that this team will bounce back. However I have come to a slightly different conclusion. I have realised that if this team somehow manages to reach the semi finals and then from there miraculously flukes its way to win the World Cup, that would actually do more harm than good for our cricket.

A good performance in the World Cup would mean that Sarfaraz will be our captain for the next four years, Muhammad Hafeez will cement his place for another few years and Shoaib Malik would delay his retirement. It might also mean that Muhammad Amir would get another free ride to the next World Cup, Inzamam-ul-Haq would continue leading the selection committee and we shall continue to see bits and pieces of cricketers like Shadab in the team. It shall also mean that we will continue to have double standards on fitness (Imad Wasim would be a very happy man). It will also mean that one or two good performances in PSL would hand you a Pakistan debut (never mind your record in domestic cricket).

I just don’t want to win the World Cup. I want to win test series. I want to win bi-lateral ODI series. I want to win in Australia, in South Africa, in New Zealand. It all seems like a distant dream, doesn't it?

If you ask me my honest opinion, a win or a good performance in this year’s World Cup would be bad for Pakistan in the long run. And I am saying this because I love Pakistan cricket.

 

[Sachin136]

A world cup is worth more than any number of bilateral series over 4 years.

 

[Captain caveman]

Wc win is biggest prize in cricket. Wc winners are legends for ever! And brings so much joy to fans. If you are lucky to enough to see your team win the wc( like i did in 92 on tv) you never forget it. But to keep things in prespective, obviously its just a game and there is much more important things in life!

 

[Chokli]

Would it really be a huge win?

 

[Kianig89]

Do you mean WC win or a WC match win bcz atm the latter even looks unlikely

 

[shane]

It would be a real slap in the face for the game if Pakistan does win it. They are probably the least deserving team.

 

[CricFan2012]

No man, its pretty hard to fluke this world cup, unless we barely get into the semis with the help of rain perhaps and opposition drops key catches, this is all very unlikely.

If Pakistan wins the World Cup then I don't see this as concerning at all, why still hate on Sarfaraz, hafeez and Malik if they contribute to the win? If they delay their retirement because of it then who cares?

No one remembers who won the ODI series vs Sri Lanka in 2006.

No one remembers the last time we beat Australia in a test match.

These are tiny things in the grand scope of things. Winning our second World Cup will inspire a generation of new cricketers, create legends for the future.

Anyways we will not win this World Cup, it is Englands.

 

[hadi123]

I'd love to win the WC, I don't care about the "more long-term bad than good" **, i'll bite your hand off for a WC win. It won't happen though