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As runner-up, New Zealand will play Pakistan in the semi-finals of the men’s T20 international cricket tournament Globalism Cup in Sydney cricket On Wednesday, one cannot help but draw one’s mind to a similar stage of the tournament in the southern hemisphere, in neighboring New Zealand 30 years ago.
It was the 1992 Cricket World Cup semi-final (50 points) in Auckland when Pakistan ousted favorites New Zealand to enter the final they won in Melbourne, defeating England under inspirational captain Imran Khan.
The semi-finals marked the emergence of Pakistan’s Inzam al-Haq as a feared hitter all over the world. Lean and youthful Enzham, who had only entered his fourth month in international cricket, fought fearlessly and turned the match in Pakistan’s favour, after New Zealand appeared to be heading for a comfortable win after scoring 262 challenges for seven and Pakistan struggling in the time. 140 for four in 35 over.
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While the never-say-die Jawed Miandad was still in his tuck, Enzamam joined him in the middle and played a blinder ball that kept the match away from New Zealand. Martin Crowe, the New Zealand captain who had been hitting brilliantly throughout the tournament, brilliantly scored 91 but was unable to enter the field. He watched helplessly from the frontier line as the Kiwi archers were being beaten by the Enzamam and encouraged by Miandad. Crowe had strained his hamstring while hitting and chose not to enter the court. John Wright, who later became India’s coach, was acting as a leader and his changes in bowling were heavily criticized.
Legend has it that Enzamam was afraid to play that match. In the previous game, the last league match against New Zealand in Christchurch, Enzamam scored just five goals and on the trip from Christchurch to Auckland, Enzamam saw Imran keeping his hand luggage in the overhead locker, and was afraid if the captain came and told him about his lack of running.
As Enzamam sat in his seat, Imran happened to sit next to him and applauded him for his four-hit New Zealand middle-speeder Willie Watson and told him to chase the Kiwi in the semi-finals in Auckland.
The story also goes that Enzamam wasn’t feeling well on the morning of the semi-finals and wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play. Imran had none of that, and ordered Inzham to hit the number assigned to him.
This was a huge confidence booster for Inzamam and there was nothing to stop him on that March day in Auckland. The rest, as they say, is history. And that wouldn’t have happened had it not been for Miandad at the other end, the legendary batsman guiding the youngster to chasing New Zealand bowling when demand was soaring.
Read also | IND vs. ENG, T20 WC: Big injury update as question looms over Rohit Sharma’s availability in the semi-finals
Inzamam scored 37 balls 60 with seven, four and six and shared 87 for the fifth wicket and Pakistan won four wickets in hand and one more to spare. Miandad remained undefeated in 57. Enzamam could not have chosen a better stage to justify his captain’s belief in him.
It was a grief for New Zealand and something that stayed with them at major world events until last year. Even before the 1992 World Cup, New Zealand entered the semi-finals in the first two editions in England (1975 and 1979), 1999, 2007 and 2011 while finishing second in 2015 and 2019.
New Zealand captain Ken Williamson was not even two years old when the 1992 World Cup semi-final match was played between Pakistan and New Zealand.
“There is a rich history in New Zealand cricket. A number of great moments. So for us, as a team, we are really focused on where we are at the moment and the kind of cricket we want to play.”
In 2019, New Zealand came painfully close to winning the title, the match went to the Super, and the score was in favor of England based on the count of the border.
You can only call it bad luck for New Zealand. They have been silently making their way to the round of four and finals constantly. However, they are the current World Test Champion team, after being defeated India In the final of the World Test Championship last year.
New Zealand were the semi-finalists of the inaugural edition in 2007, relegating to Pakistan by six wickets in Cape Town. They reached the semi-finals in 2016 also while finishing second in Australia in 2021.
Speaking about New Zealand and making it steady in the semi-finals, Williamson said: “I think there are a lot of good things in playing the tournament, and for us you know that in any match you play, the competition is fierce and you face a lot of other good things. Match-winning teams. Any day anything can happen. We’re only focused on one match at a time like we’ve done throughout this tournament. Now we’re in a semi-final, which is a nice place to be. But it’s about cricket and the kind of cricket we want to keep playing and that’s going to be our focus.”
Pakistan outperforms New Zealand not only in all T20I teams, winning 17 and losing 11 but also in the T20 World Cup, winning four and losing two. But past records don’t matter regarding Kiwi captain Ken Williamson.
Like Pakistan who discovered Enzamam in 1992, Muhammad could be a goalkeeper from this year’s World Cup. Coming as a substitute for the injured Fakhar Zaman in the middle of the tournament. Harris, the 21-year-old right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper, has already scored 28 on 11 balls with four balls and three six balls against South Africa and 31 on 18 balls with one sixty four against Bangladesh, both of which are on the winning grounds. .
Haris was praised by Pakistani martial arts teacher Matthew Hayden. The former Australian opener said: “I’ve watched him up close for the past month. He was the only person who was in every online session and played all of our speeds. For me, it was like facing McGrath, Warren, Lee, Gillespie. If you can face those Shooters, and if you play well, you know you have a high chance of running into the actual game.
“So, it’s no surprise to see how he came in and played beautifully. He has very good technique on the fast bouncy wicket. He has freshness. One of the things as an outside player coming into this tournament is pretty much that the entire cricket community with the amount of program is fairly stressful. What. Match officials, support team, players, play 24/7, that’s the program. So, to have a young and fresh face without losing anything, and nothing to really gain, but just play very freely, it was an expression Fantastic for him personally but also for the Pakistan team.”
Hayden also touched on the semi-finals of the 1992 World Cup with the participation of the two teams. He said, “He was not directly affected. But one of the great parts of the media is that all of us players and support staff are aware of the importance and importance of advertising campaigns. 1992 was a memorable year for Pakistan cricket.”
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