I was doing an analysis of each Pakistan team which played in the previous World Cup. I came to the conclusion that the present team is very similar if not better than the one which won the World Cup in 1992.
Starting with the openers, Aamir Sohail (who was new to the World Cup) and Ramiz Raja in 1992, now we have Ahmed Shehzad (who is also playing for the first time in a World Cup) and Mohammad Hafeez. Hafeez also bowls just like Aamir.
Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq somehow equal the class of Imran Khan and Javed Miandad in batting in terms of experience and maturity. Umar Akmal can be compared to Inzamam-ul-Haq and Umar has also the same potential as Inzamam had.
There does not seem to be a player similar to Salim Malik but he had a poor World Cup. Then we had Ijaz Ahmed, Wasim Akram and Moin Khan and now in this squad captain Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Kamran Akmal can be compared to them.
For bowlers in 1992 we had Wasim, Aaqib, Mushtaq, injured Imran Khan, Aamir Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed. In comparison to them now we have Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Saaed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.
Imran and his team won the 1992 World Cup, but does 2011 team possess the same passion of Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and the others? I doubt but if they do, there is every reason to believe Pakistan will be World Champions.
MUBASHIR MAHMOOD.
Karachi