Stat of the day: Inzamam ul Haq averaged 23 in World Cup cricket. He played in 5 World Cups. No one remembers because of Eden Park 1992
1999 was the last time Pakistan met South Africa at the World Cup, never beaten them in a World Cup, played 3
5-0 to India in World Cups. Now, trying to break the streak at a time when they are defending champions unlike previous 5
Sense Misbah, Amla, Irfan, KP, Ross Taylor, Dhoni, Steyn will have memorable WC if had to pick 7 names
England hoping to break 40 year drought in ODI championships. Not won one but played in 3 WC finals and 2 CT finals
The World Cup is only a World Cup in name. The structure and format of the tournament doesn't determine the best side
Not fussed re associates playing, but for a long group stage where over half the teams go through = pathetic
Why do you need such a long qualification process for what is effectively a 3 match knockout?
Problem with this format, can lose half of the games yet progress by blowing away the minor sides
I can see India scoring 450+ at Eden Park against Zimbabwe. Short boundaries, rich batting side, lifeless bowling
Razzaq's strike rate in the 1999 World Cup was 43. Batted a lot at 3. Couldn't work singles and was stuck vs spin. Dravid had SR in 80s during 1999 WC.
Miandad 40 from 110 & 38 from 64, Inzamam 41 from 93, Razzaq 12 from 29 & Younis 13 from 34 - slow scoring offences by Pak players in WC games vs Ind
Ideal WC: 15 teams, 3 groupsx5, 2 games per day, best 2 from each group into super 6.
Pak have only won 3/8 quarter finals or semi finals in World Cup. 2 vs NZ and one vs WI. Lost vs WIx2, Indiax2 & Aus in 87
Asif Iqbal, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam, Afridi & now Misbah = Pak's World Cup Captains
Wasim had everything at WC. 1 won, 1 runner up, 1 semi defeat, 1 quarter defeat, 1 1st round. 87-03.
Bangladesh at World Cups - Beat Pak in 99, Ind and SA in 07, Eng in 011. 015?
Been 5 World T20s in comparison to 1 World Cup since mid 2007. Too much I think. Should not be every 2 years.
Remember Misbah was on brink of captaining Pak at 011 WC, but commercial pressures meant Afridi was retained at last min
England, New Zealand or India if I had to pick 3 to win. Honest assessment.
Pak are playing their first game in Australia after 5 years whereas Ind have played 3 lengthy tri series+test series here since 08
Pak at WC: Won 1, Runner Up 1, out in semi 4, out in QF 1, out 1st round 3, co-hosted 2
The last time Pak played WI at a WC in Aus/NZ Ramiz Raja played one of the most selfish WC innings u will see.
On this day next year the 11th ICC World Cup will start. Tickets are on sale to the general public, starting from today. Pakistan will play India in their opening match on the 15th of Feb. Of course, never beaten them in a World Cup in 5 meetings but this time they will be defending champions unlike previous 5 occasions when they met Pakistan at a World Cup. Also, South Africa in the same group who we have lost to 3/3 times at the World Cup event, but not met since 1999. West Indies are also in our group who Pakistan tend to lose against in World Cups. Ireland are also in Pakistan's group and they have a 100% record against Pakistan at the World Cup!
It should be an open World Cup and in terms of quality play has every chance of being the best World Cup there has been. But you would think given the conditions teams such as England, South Africa and New Zealand have their best chance of finally winning a World Cup here, teams yet to win one. I personally don't think an Asian team will win it.
Of course, it is a dream to see Misbah as a World Cup winning captain along with Imran, Dhoni, Kapil Dev, Arjuna as other Asian World Cup winning captains. I don't have any doubts that Misbah will deliver extremely impressively, assuredly and consistently as ever as a batter, but I don't think he has the team quality which Imran had to repeat the story last time it was held in that part of the world. They will have their moments and win games, but hard to see them winning it; they will probably crush in a crunch game somewhere like a quarter final. But Misbah's leadership and Misbah's batting are key areas of strength when analysing the team strengths which provide hope.
In Oceania again after 23 years/5 editions, ageing Niazi leading, same PM, but not going to happen this time.
I feel the conditions in New Zealand will suit Pakistan more and they play 2 of their big 3 group matches here as well as a potential quarter final and semi final.
We will have a lot of activity on this page when the mega event is happening just like we did when Misbah led at the international competitions of the Champions Trophy and Champions League in 2013, in both events batting spectacularly.
Misbah was on the brink of captaining Pakistan at the 2011 World Cup when the squad for a 6 match ODI series in New Zealand was announced without a captain and there was a lot of educated speculation that the PCB heads were in favour of Misbah captaining. Misbah had drawn a test series against the number 2 ranked South African side and won a drought breaking test series in New Zealand which gave Pakistan their first series win after 5 captains after being named Test captain 4 months before the World Cup with Afridi retired from Test captaincy and Salman Butt suspended. Younis was coming back from serving a ban and Yousuf was also slowly coming back after serving a ban and therefore were unsuitable options at the time.
Misbah also won 2 domestic titles as captain in the previous domestic season with Sui Gas to strengthen his case for being the 2011 World Cup captain to go along with his initial Test achievements. He had captained in 2 limited over internationals as stand in 2008 and 2009 respectively, winning both matches. He scored 6 consecutive test half centuries in his first two 2-match test series as captain, a record. Also, when he was reintroduced into the ODI side he scored 2 half centuries in 4 innings during the tour of New Zealand. He was known as one of the smarter men in the team. He was known for his tactical nous.
Afridi on the other hand had lost 6 consecutive T20 internationals, lost 2 ODI series as well as being eliminated from the Asia Cup in the first round. He also ran away from test captaincy, was struggling for form and violated players code of conduct as captain. Thanks to commercial pressure and Misbah's performances in the ODI series in New Zealand to give Pakistan victory under Afridi's captaincy, the board reluctantly confirmed Afridi captain for 2011 World Cup at the last minute, but he didn't last long. It was less than 2 months after the World Cup when Afridi was sacked as captain following another embarrassing violation in conduct, resulting in Misbah being appointed full time ODI captain.
I was one of the very few who wanted Misbah leading at the 2011 World Cup instead of Afridi. I can provide evidence by searching through archives. I was desperate that Misbah was appointed captain for the showpiece event and promoted from vice captaincy to captaincy. He was blatantly the better and more assuring leadership option.
4 years on Misbah is leading at the age of 40 at a World Cup that he himself perhaps thought he would never have played in 4 years ago given the knee jerk reactions in Pakistan's culture with age. That time in 2011 he was vice skipper at age of 36. What a remarkable story it has been for the elder statesmen of Pakistan Cricket.
Nearly achieved captaincy in 2011 for what seemed at the time was going to be his first and only World Cup and was vice captain instead. But 4 years later, he is playing a second World Cup and as captain this time.
Pakistan haven't played a bilateral series in Australia or New Zealand since 2011 World Cup
Pakistan haven't won an international match in Australia in the last 10 years.
Pakistan have only played 5 ODIs in Australia in the last 10 years, losing all. Unreasonable to expect too much.
Not many hopes for the team going beyond QFs, but I see Misbah having a memorable WC as a batter. The best campaign by a Pakistan batter since Miandad's 5 50s in 1992 World Cup.
Pak are playing their first game in Australia after 5 years whereas Ind have played 3 lengthy tri series+test series here since 08
Pak at WC: Won 1, Runner Up 1, out in semi 4, out in QF 1, out 1st round 3, co-hosted 2
The last time Pak played WI at a WC in Aus/NZ Ramiz Raja played one of the most selfish WC innings u will see.
On this day next year the 11th ICC World Cup will start. Tickets are on sale to the general public, starting from today. Pakistan will play India in their opening match on the 15th of Feb. Of course, never beaten them in a World Cup in 5 meetings but this time they will be defending champions unlike previous 5 occasions when they met Pakistan at a World Cup. Also, South Africa in the same group who we have lost to 3/3 times at the World Cup event, but not met since 1999. West Indies are also in our group who Pakistan tend to lose against in World Cups. Ireland are also in Pakistan's group and they have a 100% record against Pakistan at the World Cup!
It should be an open World Cup and in terms of quality play has every chance of being the best World Cup there has been. But you would think given the conditions teams such as England, South Africa and New Zealand have their best chance of finally winning a World Cup here, teams yet to win one. I personally don't think an Asian team will win it.
Of course, it is a dream to see Misbah as a World Cup winning captain along with Imran, Dhoni, Kapil Dev, Arjuna as other Asian World Cup winning captains. I don't have any doubts that Misbah will deliver extremely impressively, assuredly and consistently as ever as a batter, but I don't think he has the team quality which Imran had to repeat the story last time it was held in that part of the world. They will have their moments and win games, but hard to see them winning it; they will probably crush in a crunch game somewhere like a quarter final. But Misbah's leadership and Misbah's batting are key areas of strength when analysing the team strengths which provide hope.
In Oceania again after 23 years/5 editions, ageing Niazi leading, same PM, but not going to happen this time.
I feel the conditions in New Zealand will suit Pakistan more and they play 2 of their big 3 group matches here as well as a potential quarter final and semi final.
We will have a lot of activity on this page when the mega event is happening just like we did when Misbah led at the international competitions of the Champions Trophy and Champions League in 2013, in both events batting spectacularly.
Misbah was on the brink of captaining Pakistan at the 2011 World Cup when the squad for a 6 match ODI series in New Zealand was announced without a captain and there was a lot of educated speculation that the PCB heads were in favour of Misbah captaining. Misbah had drawn a test series against the number 2 ranked South African side and won a drought breaking test series in New Zealand which gave Pakistan their first series win after 5 captains after being named Test captain 4 months before the World Cup with Afridi retired from Test captaincy and Salman Butt suspended. Younis was coming back from serving a ban and Yousuf was also slowly coming back after serving a ban and therefore were unsuitable options at the time.
Misbah also won 2 domestic titles as captain in the previous domestic season with Sui Gas to strengthen his case for being the 2011 World Cup captain to go along with his initial Test achievements. He had captained in 2 limited over internationals as stand in 2008 and 2009 respectively, winning both matches. He scored 6 consecutive test half centuries in his first two 2-match test series as captain, a record. Also, when he was reintroduced into the ODI side he scored 2 half centuries in 4 innings during the tour of New Zealand. He was known as one of the smarter men in the team. He was known for his tactical nous.
Afridi on the other hand had lost 6 consecutive T20 internationals, lost 2 ODI series as well as being eliminated from the Asia Cup in the first round. He also ran away from test captaincy, was struggling for form and violated players code of conduct as captain. Thanks to commercial pressure and Misbah's performances in the ODI series in New Zealand to give Pakistan victory under Afridi's captaincy, the board reluctantly confirmed Afridi captain for 2011 World Cup at the last minute, but he didn't last long. It was less than 2 months after the World Cup when Afridi was sacked as captain following another embarrassing violation in conduct, resulting in Misbah being appointed full time ODI captain.
I was one of the very few who wanted Misbah leading at the 2011 World Cup instead of Afridi. I can provide evidence by searching through archives. I was desperate that Misbah was appointed captain for the showpiece event and promoted from vice captaincy to captaincy. He was blatantly the better and more assuring leadership option.
4 years on Misbah is leading at the age of 40 at a World Cup that he himself perhaps thought he would never have played in 4 years ago given the knee jerk reactions in Pakistan's culture with age. That time in 2011 he was vice skipper at age of 36. What a remarkable story it has been for the elder statesmen of Pakistan Cricket.
Nearly achieved captaincy in 2011 for what seemed at the time was going to be his first and only World Cup and was vice captain instead. But 4 years later, he is playing a second World Cup and as captain this time.
Pakistan haven't played a bilateral series in Australia or New Zealand since 2011 World Cup
Pakistan haven't won an international match in Australia in the last 10 years.
Pakistan have only played 5 ODIs in Australia in the last 10 years, losing all. Unreasonable to expect too much.
Not many hopes for the team going beyond QFs, but I see Misbah having a memorable WC as a batter. The best campaign by a Pakistan batter since Miandad's 5 50s in 1992 World Cup.
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