Twenty-three years on from the greatest triumph in Pakistan’s cricket history, Misbah-ul-Haq leads his country back for a second World Cup on the dream fields of Australia and New Zealand. International cricket and Pakistan have changed by more than fifty shades since 1992, but the heady magic of those days will live for an eternity. Pakistan hope that the miracle of 1992 can be reborn in 2015.

A victory is possible albeit improbable. Pakistan’s form in one-day internationals is poor, and they sit 7th in international rankings. No batsman is in the top 10. They do boast the top bow­ler, however, but Saeed Ajmal did not manage to remodel his action in time to be selected. Mohammad Hafeez, the other bowler in the top 10, is injured. But the lesson of 1992 is that an underdog can become a cornered tiger if it combines absolute conviction with stardust.

Waqar Younis, who missed the 1992 tournament through injury when his powers were greater than even Wasim’s, will understand the contrast with that great side. While comparison between the two eras is inevitable, such was the miracle of 1992, that to judge Misbah’s Stray Cats against the achievements of Imran’s Tigers is harsh. Pakistan were one of the dominant teams in international cricket prior to 1992, and their poor form in the first half of the tournament was a shock in itself, although nothing to rival the surprise that followed.

In Misbah, Pakistan have a captain with Imran’s resolve, although he needs to replicate the way Imran brought the best out of his team. Imran’s advantage was that aside from himself and Javed Miandad, two of his young players were world class. Inzamam-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram shone brightest under the lights, the stardust that crowned Imran’s conviction. Misbah, for the moment, is shorn of such brilliance, although Shahid Afridi has stardust of a glitzier sort.

Of the seamers, Mohammad Irfan will enjoy the bouncy conditions and has a chance to impress the world and make a decisive impact. Pakistan’s young batsmen can shine too but they need mettle to match their gung-ho style. With all these elements firing, Misbah’s captaincy and thrillingly obstinate batting might receive the support it deserves.

This Pakistan team is built on more prosaic talents but it has its own match winners. In a relatively open tournament they can carry Pakistan into the semi-finals. Afridi will have his moments, with bat and ball, and they are often decisive. The faster tracks will suit his variety of leg spin. Yasir Shah can also defy the common rhetoric that spin will not be a factor in this tournament. The greatest leg spinner of all and Shah’s hero, Shane Warne, wrote part of his legend on Australian wickets.

Nonetheless, the Big Three southern hemisphere nations should all survive to the semi-finals at least, and after that is a matter of who holds their nerve. That fourth semi final spot is hard to call between England, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, since West Indies arrive at the tournament in near shambles. Whichever of those unfancied teams reaches the semi final will carry less pressure than the favourites. If South Africa do choke again when the stage seems set for them, one of the outsiders will have a great opportunity to upset the odds.

The three favourites to reach the semi-finals are Australia, South Africa, and this year’s surprise package, New Zealand. Each is blessed with power hitters, fast bowlers, and familiarity with the conditions. They are the form teams going into the competition. But home advantage is traditionally a poisoned chalice in world cups, with India the only country to win its own tournament. That alone would make South Africa favourites except for their talent for stumbling before the finishing line.

Generally, there seems much wrong with the world of cricket, which is increasingly designed for television ratings and social media interactions rather than to inspire players and thrill spectators. On both those last counts Pakistan’s need is greater than most, and that, in alliance with the magical echoes of history, offers Misbah and his team a glimmer of hope in their quest for Pakistan’s second World Cup.

The tournament itself will struggle to recapture the joy of 1992. The first stage is long and designed to engineer the safe passage of the major teams. There will be shocks but meaningful ones seem unlikely. The rules are stacked in favour of batsmen, an imbalance between bat and ball doesn’t cause the authorities to lose sleep. It is the final hurrah of the minnows, the associate countries, since future world cups will be limited to 10 teams. Even Pakistan’s shirts aren’t quite up to the 1992 vintage.

Published in Dawn February 14th , 2015

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