Two years prior to the 1979 World Cup a media magnate by the name of Kerry Packer, after being snubbed by the Cricket Australia over grant of television rights for the Australian cricket season, lured away the top players of the world (including the entire Australian and West Indies teams) to play in his private league, World Series Cricket.

The ‘World [cricket] War’ between the six cricket boards and Packer went on for two seasons during which more players (such as Sarfraz Nawaz and Imran Khan) were bought by the business magnate and the countries affected called up the reserves to play Test matches.

May 1979 saw a truce of sorts take place, a few weeks before the World Cup which was again held in England. But though the cricket board of West Indies rushed to include the top players lost to them for two years, Pakistan had already included Asif Iqbal, Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan and Mushtaq Mohammad (retained as captain in the 1978-79 home series against India and tour of Australia).

Meanwhile, the Australians and English displayed their ire towards the players who had deserted them. The English selectors ignored Tony Greig, John Snow, Alan Knott and Derek Underwood. The Australians opted not to show any haste in bringing back Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson and Rodney Marsh — legends all and core members of the 1975 side.

While many players were ‘packed up’ for associating with Kerry Packer, Clive Lloyd’s men returned to England to blow away all before them

While in 1975 it had been a gloriously sunny fortnight that had hosted the tournament, the inclement English weather made its mark this time, though only one match was a total washout. Some others affected by rain went into the two reserve days, something that had been brought into the rules as a contingency. Otherwise it was Groundhog Day for the teams: Two groups of four sides each consisting of one non-Test playing member, playing each other once, two semi-finals and final, total 15 matches, 60-over innings, 12-over per bowler limit, no fielding restrictions and of course English umpires in their white coats.

There was a trophy tournament of associate members from all over the world arranged in the English Midlands leading up to the World Cup; Sri Lanka and Canada qualified. But the strength of the Australians (literally their ‘B’ side) and Indians (for ODI format) meant the other four were confirmed semi-finalists. Indeed there were hardly any significant games or individual performances in games played by these sides.

West Indies were once again the favourites. They were led again by the somber Clive Lloyd, all hunched and still panther like, looking over his merry men, literally; the Calypso knew how to party with bat and ball. Viv Richards had by then steeled himself in the Packer’s World Series Cricket against the best of bowlers and become something of an Iron Man. And of course there was the feared quartet of Roberts Holding, Croft and Garner. Never before and never again was such speed, bounce and fear delivered at such consistency.

England dreamt of lifting the trophy even more than in 1975. India were looking to stay out of embarrassment (which they couldn’t unfortunately as they lost all their games including one to Sri Lanka). New Zealand felt they had a better team than four years ago. And yet many eyes were once again on Pakistan, the side that on their day was simply magical and otherwise individually spectacular. The team had left Pakistani airspace with the same leadership controversy as four years ago. The only difference was that this time Mushtaq Mohammad was the deposed captain in favour of Asif Iqbal, though unlike Intikhab Alam in 1975, his abdication to captaincy was more voluntary than forced.

Mushtaq, perhaps aware that a bigger cake awaited him (tour of India in November) which he may miss if he disappointed in the World Cup, opted out saying he was not that young and would rather continue as captain on tour of India. As it transpired, Asif was retained as captain for India and Mushtaq never played for Pakistan again.

Asif Iqbal therefore returned after exactly four years to lead Pakistan again. He carried the precocious talent of Javed Miandad, Wasim Raja and of course the far improved in pace Imran Khan, all three who had promised so much in the previous World Cup and were now deemed ready to fulfill it. The top order was the same with Majid and Sadiq Mohammad opening, followed by Zaheer Abbas and Asif Iqbal. Backing up Imran once again was Sarfraz Nawaz and the sprightly Sikander Bakht who could surprise with the odd nip he found off the pitch. There was no spin specialist, a role that Majid Khan was to fill with amazing accuracy.

They had played the closest encounter of the 1975 World Cup against West Indies and were to prove once again their near nemesis. But before that they were to come into character against England. They had pushed aside Canada and the depleted Australians; they now came face to face with hosts England at Headingley, renowned for seam and swing. The winner would avoid West Indies in the semi- final.

Pakistan in fact soon had the English floored at 118-8, a score the tail dragged to 165-9 as Majid finished with 3-27 in 12 overs. At 27-0 Pakistan was flying only to dive to 39-6 as balls thudded on to their pads or edges flew to slips. Asif and Raja rebuilt brick by brick with a 52-run partnership but once they fell Pakistan, despite a fine partnership between Imran and Bari, fell 14 short with four overs left. The finisher was unbelievably, Geoff Boycott, the dour opening batsman bowling with his England cap on taking 2-14.It was Majid again (0-26 in 12 overs) who derived respect from a disrespectful West Indian top order that fetched 293 in the semi-final. Pakistan nevertheless seemed out of it, especially when Sadiq fell early. But then came a pulsating partnership between two of the most graceful batsmen in cricket: Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas. Together they tamed the dreaded Windies quartet; hooking, pulling, cutting and driving with aplomb and a dominance that left Pakistan some 120 to get at five an over with nine wickets in hand.

But then, as Zaheer fell for 93, Asif made a strange decision by sending in Haroon Rasheed, the lesser experienced and least versatile from among Miandad, Raja and Asif himself. It was a time to open the throttles and maintain the momentum but Haroon was too overawed by the occasion. Majid fell for 81 trying to force the pace from one end, and so did the others who came and went to the extent that Pakistan’s last nine wickets fell for 74. It was a game that had become theirs to lose and they had lost it tactically.

West Indies were to go on and win the final, where Richards made a scintillating 138 but lost most of the limelight to partner Collis King who joined him at 99-4 and smashed 86 off 67 balls in a partnership of 139. England was to experiment with idiocy, choosing to not lose wickets at the expense of a slower run rate for a final assault. It was a country for old men it seemed as Mike Brearley and Boycott put on 129 at snail’s pace that left the nine young guns with over 150 to score in 20 overs; they finished 92 short.

Despite the stuffing being taken out of the final, the tournament had brought in profits enough for the ICC to decide that the World Cup was here to stay. It may not have had as many individual highlights as in 1975 and was short of the best from Australia; but the world had watched and given its nod for another round.

Prudential World Cup — 1979

Highest total
293-6 — West Indies v Pakistan at The Oval
Lowest total
45 — Canada v England at Old Trafford
Highest match aggregates
543-16 — West Indies 293-6 v Pakistan 250 at The Oval
Most runs
253 — C.G. Greenidge (West Indies)
Highest score
138 — I.V.A. Richards (West Indies) v England at Lord's
Most wickets
10 — M. Hendrick (England)
Best bowling
5/21 — A.G. Hurst (Australia) v Canada at Edgbaston
Most dismissals
7 (all ct) — D.L. Murray (West Indies)
Most catches
4 — Asif Iqbal (Pakistan)

Match summaries

1st match: Group B — India v West Indies at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 9 — West Indies won by 9 wickets (with 8.3 overs remaining)
2nd match: Group B — New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on June 9 — New Zealand won by 9 wickets (with 12.2 overs remaining)
3rd match: Group A — England v Australia at Lord’s, London on June 9 — England won by 6 wickets (with 2.5 overs remaining)
4th match: Group A — Canada v Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds on June 9 — Pakistan won by 8 wickets (with 19.5 overs remaining)
5th match: Group B — Sri Lanka v West Indies at Kennington Oval, London on June 13 and 15 — Match abandoned without a ball bowled
6th match: Group B — India v New Zealand at Headingley, Leeds on June 13 — New Zealand won by 8 wickets (with 3 overs remaining)
7th match: Group A — Australia v Pakistan at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on June 13 and 14 — Pakistan won by 89 runs
8th match: Group A — England v Canada at Old Trafford, Manchester on June 13 and 14 — England won by 8 wickets (with 46.1 overs remaining)
9th match: Group B — India v Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, Manchester on June 16 and 18 — Sri Lanka won by 47 runs
10th match: Group B — New Zealand v West Indies at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on June 16 — West Indies won by 32 runs
11th match: Group A — Australia v Canada at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 16 — Australia won by 7 wickets (with 34 overs remaining)
12th match: Group A — England v Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds on June 16 — England won by 14 runs
1st semi-final: England v New Zealand at Old Trafford, Manchester on June 20 — England won by 9 runs
2nd semi-final: Pakistan v West Indies at Kennington Oval, London on June 20 — West Indies won by 43 runs
The final: England v West Indies at Lord’s, London on June 23 — West Indies won by 92 runs

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, December 14th, 2014