Pakistan players urged to seek inspiration from ’92 triumph

BRISBANE: United Arab Emirates came agonisingly close to recording their most famous cricket win and — in the process — gifting Pakistan with some much-needed breathing space, writes Khalid Hussain.
The minnows do not have many supporters but here on Wednesday they had plenty in the Pakistani camp as they first piled up 278-9 against an impressive Irish attack and then almost brought down their more fancied opponents to their knees here at Gabba.
But in the end, the Irish had a great escape as Gary Wilson hit a match-winning knock of 80 off 69 to keep his team in the hunt for a quarter-final place in the World Cup.
A UAE victory against Ireland could have eased some pressure on Pakistan, who are facing an uphill task in their bid to qualify for the last eight.
Following two crushing losses against India and West Indies, Pakistan are languishing at the bottom of Pool B and facing the dismal prospect of falling at the first hurdle just like in 2007 when the World Cup took place in the Caribbean.
They should either win all their four remaining group matches including a tough game against South Africa in Auckland. Or they should at least win against the three minnows – Zimbabwe, UAE and Ireland by substantial margins to join India, Proteas and West Indies in the quarter-finals from Pool B.
The script could have changed a bit had UAE won here as such a result would have dampened Irish hopes to some extent in the lead up to their Pool B game against Pakistan in Adelaide on March 15.
It was Pakistan-born Shaiman Anwar Butt who brought UAE to within striking distance of a stunning victory. The 35-yer-old from Sialkot hit a superb century and shared a record World Cup seventh-wicket stand of 107 with Amjad Javed (42) to help lift UAE from 6-131 to 9-278.
Meanwhile, Pakistani players continued to work hard here in Brisbane ahead of their crucial game against Zimbabwe here at Gabba on Sunday.
With both their World Cup outings resulting in big defeats, Pakistan are languishing at the last place in Pool B even behind UAE with a net run-rate of -2.26.
“It s quite clear that we have our backs against the wall,” a team official told ‘The News’ here on Wednesday. “We have no points and our net run-rate is poor. In such a situation what we really need to do is shrug off past disappointment and give our best to bring Pakistan back in contention.”
Pakistan aren’t just relying on on-field drills to regain their lost form.
Team officials and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq are constantly giving their players pep talks in a bid to raise their morale.
“The players have been told time and again that they should play for their country and fellow countrymen,” he said. “Cricket brings great hope for our compatriots which is why the team needs to lift its game and win this battle for survival.”
The players have also been told to seek inspiration from Pakistan’s title-winning triumph in 1992 when the Green-shirts came back from the jaws of an early elimination to win the World Cup.
“Our situation in the 1992 World Cup was equally dismal but our team didn’t lose hope. We need to display similar never-say-die approach now.”
The team officials and players have also been praying for their luck to change.
“We have been unlucky in this World Cup so far but hopefully our luck will change,” the official said.