History of the Pakistani cricket team

The Pakistan cricket team made its Test cricket debut in 1952 and has since become one of the most successful teams in modern cricket. The team reached the semi-finals of the 1983 and 1987 World Cups, and won the 1992 ICC Cricket World Cup by defeating England in the final.

History

Following the Partition of India in 1947, and the establishment of the separate nation state of Pakistan, cricket in the country developed steadily and Pakistan was given Test Match status at a meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord's Cricket Ground on 28 July 1952 following recommendation by India [Guinness Cricket Encyclopaedia] , which, being the successor state of the British Raj, did not have to go through such a process.

Pakistan’s first Test match was played in Delhi in October 1952 as part of a five Test series which India won 2-1. Pakistan made their first tour of England in 1954 and drew the series 1-1 after a memorable victory at The Oval in which fast bowler Fazal Mahmood took 12 wickets. Pakistan’s first home Test match was in Dacca in January 1955 against India, after which four more Test matches were played in Bahawalpur, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi (all five matches in the series were drawn, the first such occurrence in test history [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/sports_talk/stump_bearders/5159010.stm Stump the Bearded Wonder No 126] : BBC Sport Retrieved 28 February 2007.] ).

The team is considered strong but unpredictable. Traditionally Pakistani cricket has had players of great talent but limited discipline, making them a team which could play inspirational cricket one day and then perform less than ordinarily another day. Over the years, competitions between India and Pakistan have always been emotionally charged and provide for intriguing contests, as talented teams from both sides of the border elevate their game to new levels to produce high-quality cricket. Pakistan's matches against India in the Cricket World Cup have seen packed stadiums and heightened atmospheres no matter where the World Cup has been held.

1986 Australasia Cup

The 1986 Australasia Cup, played in Sharjah, is remembered as a famous last-ball victory for Pakistan against arch-rivals India, with Javed Miandad emerging as a national hero. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/255480.html Going, going...gone] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.]

India batted first and set a target of 245 runs, leaving Pakistan with a required run rate of 4.92 runs per over. Javed Miandad came in to bat at number 3, and Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals. Later recalling the match, Miandad stated that his main focus was to lose with dignity. With 31 runs needed in the last three overs, Miandad hit a string of boundaries while batting with his team's lower order, until four runs were required from the last delivery of the match. Miandad received a leg side full toss from Chetan Sharma, which he hit for six over the midwicket boundary. [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1985-86/OD_TOURNEYS/AA/IND_PAK_AA_ODI-FINAL_18APR1986.html Austral-Asia Cup, 1985/86, Final, India v Pakistan] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.]

1992 World Cup Semi Final

After winning the toss, New Zealand chose to bat first and ended with a total of 262. Pakistan batted conservatively yet lost wickets at regular intervals. With the departure of Imran Khan and Saleem Malik shortly thereafter, Pakistan still required 115 runs at a rate of 7.67 per over with veteran Javed Miandad being the only known batsman remaining at the crease. A young Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had just turned 22 and was not a well-known player at the time, burst onto the international stage with a match-winning 60 off 37 balls. Once Inzamam got out, Pakistan required 36 from 30 balls, which wicketkeeper Moin Khan ended with a towering six over long off, followed by the winning boundary to midwicket. The match is seen as the emergence of Inzamam onto the international stage. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/284421.html Inzi announces his arrival, and India's hat-trick hero] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.] [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/286583.html Five of the best] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.] [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/WC92/NZ_PAK_WC92_ODI-SEMI1_21MAR1992.html Benson & Hedges World Cup, 1991/92, 1st Semi Final, New Zealand v Pakistan] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.]

= 1992 World Cup Victory =

The 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia & New Zealand marked Pakistan's first World Cup victory. It is remembered for the comeback Pakistan made after losing key players such as Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar, and being led by an injured captain in Imran Khan. Pakistan lost 4 of their first 5 matches and were nearly eliminated in the first round of the tournament after being bowled out for 74 against England, until the match was declared as a "no result" due to rain. Captain Imran Khan famously told the team to play as "cornered tigers", after which Pakistan won five successive matches, including, most famously, the semi-final against hosts New Zealand and the final against England. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/264386.html Imran's Tigers turn the corner] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.]

= 2007 World Cup Shock =

Pakistan participated in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup History when they were knocked out of the competition in a shock defeat to Ireland, who were playing in their first competition. Pakistan, needing to win to qualify for the next stage after losing to the West Indies in their opening match, were put into bat by Ireland on a green pitch. They lost wickets regularly and only 4 batsmen crossed double figures. In the end they were bowled out by the resurgent Irish for 132. The Irish went on to win the match, helped by a knock of 72 from Niall O'Brien. This meant that Pakistan had been knocked out during the first round for the second consecutive World Cup. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/285704.html Pakistan sent home by bold Ireland] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.] [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/285827.html Shamrocks turn Pakistan green] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.] [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/engine/current/match/247465.html ICC World Cup - 9th Match, Group D, Ireland v Pakistan] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 14 May, 2007.]

Tragedy struck the team when coach Bob Woolmer died one day later on March 18, 2007 in a hospital in Kingston, Jamaica. Jamaican police spokesman, Karl Angell, reported on March 23, 2007 that, "Mr Woolmer's death was due to asphyxiation as a result of manual strangulation," and that, "Mr Woolmer's death is now being treated by the Jamaica police as a case of murder." [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/story/286794.html Police hunt Woolmer's murderer] : Cricinfo.com Retrieved 24 March 2007.]

Subsequent to his team's defeat and the death of Bob Woolmer, Inzamam-ul-Haq announced his resignation as captain of the team and his retirement from one-day cricket, stating that he would continue to take part in Test cricket but not as captain. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/story/286039.html Shattered Inzamam retires from one-day scene] : Cricinfo.com Retrieved 24 March 2007.]

On 23 March, 2007, Pakistan players and officials were questioned by Jamaican police and submitted DNA samples along with fingerprints, as part of the routine enquiries in the investigation into Woolmer's murder. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/286876.html DNA testing for Pakistan players] : Cricinfo.com Retrieved 07 April 2007.] Three days after leaving the West Indies for Pakistan, via London, the Pakistan team were ruled out as suspects. The deputy commissioner of Jamaican police. Mark Shields, the detective in charge of the investigation, announced, "It's fair to say they are now being treated as witnesses." "I have got no evidence to suggest it was anybody in the squad." [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/story/287377.html Pakistan no longer suspects in Woolmer case] : Cricinfo.com Retrieved 07 April 2007.] A memorial service was held in Sacred Heart Church, Lahore, for Bob Woolmer on 01 April, 2007. Among the attendees were Pakistan players and dignitaries, including Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was quoted as saying, "After Woolmer's family, the Pakistan team was the most aggrieved by his death." [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/woolmer/content/current/story/288347.html Memorial service for Woolmer held in Lahore] : Cricinfo.com Retrieved 07 April 2007.] After the World Cup ended, serious doubts were raised about the investigation, with increasing speculation that Woolmer died of natural causes. This has now been accepted as fact, and the case has been closed. [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/woolmer/content/current/story/295091.html Doubts grow over pathologist's findings] . "Cricinfo.com." Retrieved on 21 May, 2007.]

Tournament history

* [icc twenty20 chamionship#2007_runners up

References

See also

* Pakistan Under-19 cricket team
* Pakistani national cricket captains
* Pakistan national women's cricket team
* India versus Pakistan cricket rivalry