If one goes by history, Pakistan could well emerge as the champions of the ongoing World Cup. Hard to believe? But history and the pattern of performance of Sarfaraz Ahmed's team indicate that Pakistan might well hold aloft the trophy on July 14.
The record of the Pakistan side so far in this edition has been eerily similar to that of the 1992 edition of the World Cup when the Imran Khan-led side won the coveted trophy in Australia and New Zealand.
In 1992, the ICC had introduced the round-robin format wherein each team played each other once before the top four teams qualified for the knockouts.
Pakistan's record in first seven matches in 1992 read:
1st Match- Lost
2nd Match- Won
3rd Match- Rained out
4th Match- Lost
5th Match- Lost
6th Match- Won
7th Match- Won
Interestingly, Pakistan's record in 2019 World Cup till now reads:
1st Match- Lost
2nd Match- Won
3rd Match- Rained out
4th Match- Lost
5th Match- Lost
6th Match- Won
7th Match- Won
In the seventh game in 1992, the Imran-led side had faced an unbeaten New Zealand team in the semifinal at Auckland. New Zealand racked up a challenging total of 262 on the board after useful contributions of 91 from their skipper Martin Crowe and 50 from Ken Rutherford. But Pakistan chased down the total thanks to a quick-fire 60 from Inzamam-ul-Haq and 57 from Miandad.
On Wednesday, Pakistan again faced an unbeaten New Zealand side at Birmingham and the script was exactly the same. New Zealand scored 237 after opting to bat first riding on Jimmy Neesham’s 97 and 64 from de Gandhomme. In reply, Babar Azam scored a brilliant hundred for Pakistan helping them win by 6 wickets.
Ahead of the match, former Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram hoped for a repeat of 1992's show when Pakistan had defeated the Kiwis -- who were also unbeaten till that match -- by seven wickets in their crucial World Cup game played at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
"They were unbeaten in 1992 too before playing against us and we won the game, they're unbeaten again and I hope we repeat the show, but boys will have to give their best," Wasim told Pakistan's Geo TV.
Post the win, Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed seemed to be a happy man.
"Good to see the results today. Whenever Pakistan team is pushed to the corner, we do well," said Sarfaraz at the post-match presentation ceremony.
On comparisons with 1992's performance, Sarfaraz played it down. "We are not thinking about the 1992 World Cup, we are taking game by game here. We are confident as a team and hopefully we will do well," said Sarfaraz.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated Sarfaraz Ahmed's men for making a great comeback in the ongoing World Cup following their emphatic victory over New Zealand in Birmingham.
"Congratulations to our cricket team for a great comeback. Congratulations especially go to Babar, Haris and Shaheen for their brilliant performances," the Pakistan Prime Minister tweeted on Wednesday night.
Congratulations to our cricket team for a great comeback. Congratulations especially go to Babar, Haris and Shaheen for their brilliant performances.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 26, 2019
With seven points from seven games, Pakistan need to win their remaining two games and also hope that results of other matches go in their favour so that they can make it to the last four stage.
With IANS inputs