Reham Khan says Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup win is my favourite cricketing moment

Legendary all-rounder Imran Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan, who was in New Delhi on Friday, said Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph was her favourite cricketing moment.

“Winning the 1992 World Cup was a special moment for me and of course for every Pakistani. It was a wonderful feeling,” the former BBC presenter, a human rights activist said on Friday in an exclusive interview to India today.

Imran came up with an all-round show in the final against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and led his team to their first ever World Cup triumph.

Reham also said she loved watching cricket during the days of Kapil Dev and Javed Miandad. “I was a huge fan of Javed Miandad. I still remember his ‘chokas’. Kapil Dev was also a fantastic cricketer,” Reham said.

Reham, who had been an active journalist, said she watched a lot of cricket with her father despite travelling around the globe continuously.

“My father and I used to wake up at unearthly hours to watch matches as we travelled to different countries, different continents.

“We watched a lot of cricket when Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq were playing,” she said.

However, things have now changed for Reham. She has stopped the following cricket after her divorce with cricketer turned politician Imran.

“After last year, cricket has completely been wiped off my agenda,” she said.

Imran tied the knot with Reham in a low-key ceremony in January last year. Their marriage lasted only for ten months as the couple decided to part ways and filed for divorce in November last year.

Nevertheless, Reham can’t keep herself away from the India-Pakistan World Twenty20 fervour that has currently taken the two countries by storm. India, after losing their first game against New Zealand, take on a confident Pakistan at the Eden Gardens today.

Reham is rooting for Pakistan and their captain Shahid Afridi. She feels Pakistan’s love affair with Eden will continue in today’s clash against India.

“Shahid Afridi likes T20, it’s his mode. He has been under pressure. He is being criticised for his age. Men don’t like it when they are criticised for their age. Afridi is all revved up for today’s game. He is waiting to prove his critics wrong.

“Pakistan love playing at the Eden Gardens. We’ve got a good mix of experience and youth. I am rooting for our first win against India in World Cups,” she said.

“We have wiped a lot of tears when it comes to Pakistan-India matches. This time, I would like to smile,” she added.

Reham said she was aware of all the on-field rivalry between fans of the two teams and said she didn’t associate any negativity with it.

“The bouncers start rolling on social media a long time before it actually starts on the pitch. Sport is a great medium for connecting people; a lot of high-profile figures have come to watch the match. Also, a lot of people have travelled across the border.

“Even people, who don’t watch cricket, watch India-Pakistan clash. It’s good for cricket,” she said.

Reham wants professional cricket to return to Pakistan. She says the people in Pakistan are deprived of cricketing action and they are tired of watching cricket on television sets.

“We would like to see professional cricket return to Pakistan. It’s a shame because a lot of cricket happens around the globe but the Pakistani fans are deprived of it. We want to go back to the early eighties and the late seventies where we could watch cricket at the stadiums. We don’t want be watching it on television anymore,” she said.

She also said that India should travel to Pakistan in future.

“India playing in Pakistan is one of the best things that could happen to the Pakistan government and its cricket board. Pakistan players will be well looked after in India. Afridi has also said people love our players more than in Pakistan. It’s the same case with Indians in Pakistan.

“What fun would be Indian cricket without Pakistan?” Reham queried.

Courtesy: India Today