Bazid Khan: "It's the best bowling attack against the most destructive batters"

S.M. HUSSAIN: There are plenty of comparisons to be made between Pakistan's World Cup victory in 1992 and their run to the final in Australia 30 years on

SM Hussain | 12/11/2022 at 12:01

Pakistan will be locking horns with England in the T20 World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday and there is a sense of déjà vu about their road to the final.

Cricket enthusiasts around the globe and especially in Pakistan couldn't help but notice the uncanny similarities between the 1992 ODI World Cup and this T20 World Cup, both played in Australia.

Former Pakistan player and now renowned commentator Bazid Khan is in Australia calling on the game and he agrees with this notion.

"Semi-final versus New Zealand, final versus England, and Melbourne of course," Bazid told The Cricketer.

In 1992, the rain came to rescue Pakistan after putting a meagre total of 74 on the board against England at the Adelaide Oval; both teams shared one point each and that extra point enabled Pakistan to qualify for the semis.

Again, in this World Cup, it was the Adelaide Oval where Pakistan's fortunes changed when the Netherlands beat South Africa by 13 runs and Pakistan won against Bangladesh to stay in the tournament.

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^{Pakistan beat England to win the 1992 World Cup (Getty Images)}

Since their opening defeat against India at the MCG, there has been plenty of debate around the makeup of Pakistan's batting line-up, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan struggling for form initially and an unsettled middle order beneath them.

The addition of Mohammad Haris, though, has added genuine firepower at No.3, while Babar and Rizwan both found rhythm in the semi-final win over New Zealand.

"World Cups are the pinnacle," said Bazid. "The short-run doesn't come into it. I don't think there's a particular strategy, as a whole they want the batting to keep them in the game. Bowling is what wins it.

"It's the bowling that's winning Pakistan games, If Pakistan go on to win the cup, batting strategy won't matter.

"I think it'll be Pakistan bowlers versus the English batters. It's the best bowling attack against the most destructive batters – a very long (English) batting line-up."