Imran Khan Sunday said next year’s World Cup was an open tournamentdespite the fact that Australia remained firm favourites
25-Mar-2002Imran Khan Sunday said next year’s World Cup was an open tournamentdespite the fact that Australia remained firm favourites.”History tells that except in 1979, never a favourite team has won.That means the tournament is wide open and any team can win it,” Imrantold Dawn as Pakistan prepared to remember its decade of World Cupglory.Exactly 10 years ago on March 25, 1992 in Melbourne, Imran’s ‘corneredtigers’ returned from the grave to win five matches on a trot to sendthe country into jubilation. The country hailed Imran and his team andshowered them with praise, rewards and honour.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on March 30 is celebrating thatunforgettable success and is expected to launch its countdown for theWorld Cup in South Africa.Imran, who battled a troublesome right shoulder in the tournament 10years ago, also believed that there was a big difference betweenAustralia and rest of the team.”The standard is not the same as it was in 1992. Australia is farahead of rest of the present teams,” the 49-year-old legend said.Imran, whose team included half the members who were playing inAustralia for the first time, believed the key to success would bemotivation and conviction.”We lost three of the first five matches but I was not ready to acceptdefeat. I always had the confidence and therefore it was easy for meto motivate myself and the boys. “I feel that motivation and selfbelief will be the key to success next year,” he said. He, however,said the present Pakistan team lacks fighting spirit and blamed recentresults and continuous changes in the team for the current turmoil.The team is not winning enough. It is not consistant and therefore itlacks fighting spirit. There has been continuous changes in the teamand the captaincy. “I feel that it is time to put a stop toexperimentation. The selectors need to finalize the 15 and keep themtogether till the tournament,” he said.He said he had prepared for the 1992 World Cup in advance and thoughthere were a couple of injuries, he remained focused on what he had todo.”Captains have been changed too frequently. But I think Waqar is nowsettling down.”Imran said he still remembered World Cup success as his one of hisfinest hours. “I still remember how delighted the country was. It mademe even more prouder. I had never seen the country so united andexcited.”World Cup success was also important to me because it was my lasttournament in Pakistan colours and I was desperate to end it on a highnote. In addition to this, the victory was also crucial to ShaukatKhanum Memorial Cancer Hospital,” Imran said.Imran had announced his retirement after the 1987 World Cup. But cameout of retirement after mounting pressure from the then President, thelate General Zia-ul-Haq.Imran, who now heads a political party, said he would be more thandelighted to help Pakistan reclaim the title. He said in the recentpast, Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar invited him to pass on tips tofast bowlers and other cricketers.”I am ready to contribute in any way I can which can help Pakistan winthe tournament. But of course, I can’t work full-time.”The legend Sunday advised Pakistan cricketers to start believing inthemselves which he believed was the key to his success in the 1992,exactly a decade ago.”I never accept defeat. (In 1992) I was confident that we will windespite that fact that we lost three of the first five games. I hadthe conviction so it was easy for me to motivate myself and my team,”Imran said.Javed Miandad, who was the vice-captain, believed an unseen force wassupporting the team.”It was not like the infamous Maradona’s Hand of God. But there wascertainly a force that was helping us,” Miandad said. He said he stillremembers World Cup victory as his greatest achievement. “The hopeshad ended in tears in 1987. But in 1992, we avenged that loss andthere was is still no great feeling than remembering that I was partof the World Cup victory.”Miandad, who was initially dropped from the squad, said he was not fitto play in the competition. “But I was forced to jet out and join theteam. I sometimes wonder how I played the tournament,” he said.Miandad supported PCB’s decision to celebrate the success. “Historicvictories like these should be celebrated as it also boosts theconfidence of the present team.”