Golden Time of Cricket Teams: Pakistan 1989-1992

A notorious selection it was, perchance. Pakistan, despite all their victories, has never shown resilience and consistency, even during their 1992 World Cup triumph.  They flirted with the game during the league matches in 1992 World Cup. Had the downpour not interceded soon after the Pakistani batting line up was sent to the pavilion for just 74 by the Englishmen, Pakistan would have been out from the tournament. As it was the superb captaincy of Imran Khan, Javed Mianadad’s optimum dexterity and Wasim Akram’s magical in-swingers that produced some unforgettable moments of Pakistani cricket to grab the crystal the trophy.

The killer combination of two ‘W’s –Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis along with some  irrepressible performances by  Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Aamir Sohail, Pakistan possessed all the ingredients to dominate the game during 1989-1992.

During 1989-1992 Pakistan not only ruled the cricket world but also they won The Champions Trophy by defeating West Indies and India in UAE. Furthemore, a memorable performance of Pakistan at The Nehru Cup where the green shirts defeated Australia, India, England, West Indies and Sri Lanka on the Indian soil. The Australasia Cup ( India, Bangladesh, Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand were defeated) and The Wills Trophy (again defeating West Indies and India) played in UAE were some of the memorable moments of Pakistan cricket history.

Famous cricket players Virendar Sehwag: An ace in the Indian Deck

Records are meant to be broken and Virendar Sehwag did in great fashion by hitting the highest ODI score of 219runs against West Indies at Indore, India. Virendar Sehwag broke the Highest ODI runs record of Sachin Tendulker who registered 200 runs against South Africa on February 24, 2011. Only two men did it in the history or ODI cricket and both are from India. Sehwag has considered his win as the biggest thing in life as he broke the record of his role model Sahcin Tendulker.

Virender Sehwag has a well built career with an inexorable pursuit, and a wunderkind, for hitting the boundaries all over. His specialty lies in his foot work, although it minimal but the intent to strike the ball is optimum. Not only ODIs, he has been the fastest runs scorer in the history for test cricket. As an opener, always a danger man for all kind of bowling attacks. 

Golden Time of Cricket Teams: West Indies 1975-1984

Gone are the days when West Indies aka Windies reigned the ODI cricket in its early days. Those were the days when an ODI match was of 60 overs, without any power plays and fielding restrictions. Holding a red ball, Men dressed in white played the first world cup in 1975 where West Indies under the captaincy of Clive Lloyd lofted the first World Cup trophy.

West Indies during 1975-1984 was one team that was always a hard nut to crack for all the cricketing nations. Windies were blessed with legendary players like Viv Richards, Andy Roberts, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Rohan Kanhai, Michael Holding, Collis King and Desmond Haynes. All these players who rose from the Caribbean have registered profuse golden memories of the glorious days they spent entertaining the spectators on the cricket grounds – the defeat of Aussies in the 1975 world cup final was not less than stupendous and this performance was repeated in 1979 when England lost to West Indies in a pulsating World Cup final match.

Although there was a major hit to West Indies in 1983 world cup final when they lost playing against India, But it is a reality that Windies enjoyed their supremacy as the best ODI team from 1975 to 1984.

Humaira Asad

Golden Time of Cricket Teams: Australia 1999-2007

None can share this laurel which Australia holds, the best ODI team cricket world has ever produced. Australia was the undisputed king of ODI format during 1999 – 2007.Some of the records registered by the Kangaroos are still unbeaten as they have consecutively won 21 ODI matches during 2003; a worthwhile feat to look at.  Furthermore, three successive World Cup titles from 1999 to 2007 put them on top of the cricket world. If we look at the World Cup matches performance, Australian Cricket team won 25 matches in a row and played 34 games without a single defeat.

The killing combination of some great Australian players never allowed anyone stand in their way to success. Legendary cricketers like Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist played a dominant part in winning all the three World Cup finals during the discussed period. Ricky Ponting is considered to be the most successful captain ever in the history of Cricket. Whether it’s a test match, an ODI or a T20 format, this collective performance as a captain is phenomenal.

Australians as a team set example for all the other cricketing nations as how to reinvent themselves and keep hitting the target successfully no matter whatever the situation at the game is. With the retirement of Shane Warne, Australians never sat back and found Brad Hogg as a good replacement for their team. Aussies are still one of the best teams of the Cricket world and great entertainers for cricket fans across the globe.

Humaira Asad

The Glitz & Blitz of Muhammad Hafeez

Muhammad Hafeez-He is pacified, he is unwearied, he is none other than Muhammad Hafeez who has bestowed his excellent skills to Pakistan not only with bat but also with his neat bowling. Furthermore, he has saved so many runs due to his feverish vigilance in the ground.  An under-hyped cricketer with some magnificent performances has finally brought him in limelight on the ICC ODI bowlers ranking table.

In the third ODI against Bangladesh, this Pakistani spinner took three wickets at the most crucial time of the game and turned the match in favor of Pakistan. This is not the first time; he is always a handy bowler and had been supporting Pakistan’s main bowling attack for quite some time. Not only he aided Pakistan in winning the series with a clean sweep, Mohammad Hafeez also got the honor of becoming the third player to register 30 wickets and a double of 1000 runs in the cricket calendar year. Prior to him, Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka was the first player to bag this title in 1997. South African legendary cricketer Jacques Kallis is the second who has achieved this feat in 2000 and 2002. Currently Muhammad Hafeez is on the second slot on the ICC ODI bowlers ranking, following is her peer Saeed Ajmal who is holding the top position on the chart.

Humaira Asad

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