AUCKLAND: It was in Auckland’s Eden Park that Pakistan had achieved the impossible all those years ago against New Zealand in a historic semi-final in 1992. On Saturday, they once again snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Former New Zealand all-rounder Gavin Larsen was watching from the stands against South Africa but in March 1992, he was out there on the field when a 22-year-old Inzamamul Haq took the game away from them. For the Kiwis, the defeat on home ground still hurts and Pakistan’s unpredictability and never-say-die attitude invariably brought back painful memories of that match for Larsen.
As Pakistan plugged away at the powerful Proteas batting line-up, New Zealand’s Cricket Operations Manager former all-rounder Gavin Larsen reminisced about his team’s shocking defeat at the hands of Imran Khan’s men at the cauldron of Eden Park, a defeat that still stings.
“One of the greatest games of my life was the semi-final and the atmosphere was amazing,” he told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview. “In Martin Crowe, we had the best captain in the tournament, who used his resources very well. But his injury meant that John Wright had to lead the team in adverse circumstances.”
After setting Pakistan a 263-run target, New Zealand were very much in control when Inzamam walked out to bat at number six with the green machine still needing 124 at more than seven runs an over.
“Inzamam shoved a dagger through our hearts, it was an emotional yet an amazing experience and it was indeed a dream shattered,” said 52-year-old Larsen. “We felt that we would have beaten the English team that played the final until Inzi just pulled the rug from under us.”
Larsen, playing an active role in organising the World Cup in New Zealand, feels that the current Pakistan team is a level below in skill and ability compared to the team he used to often get hammered against in the 90s. “The team we played against had Javed [Miandad] and Imran ,and later on Inzamam, the Ws [Wasim and Waqar] and Mushy [Mushtaq Ahmed] were right on top of the game. Pakistan were unpredictable, but on their day they could destroy anyone. With the ball in their hands, it was impossible to deal with their reverse swing.”
But for all the awe that he has for the class of 1992, Larsen feels that the team playing in the World Cup under Misbahul Haq is yet to come to terms with modern ODI cricket. “The game continues to evolve, now you need a positive mind-set,” he said. “In the 90s, there were phases where you needed to grind at times. The current Pakistan team has three or four match winners at best — other teams have up to seven.”
However, he is much happier with the current New Zealand team. “The biggest factor in the resurgence of New Zealand cricket is the competitive nature of our domestic cricket in the last decade. The current line-up has some great and skilled players who are turning things around for us and hopefully a World Cup win would be the perfect icing on the cake.”
If the present-day side can do what Larsen and the others failed to do at home 23 years ago, then perhaps all those wounds will finally heal. But for now, the memory of March 21, 1992, is as fresh in Larsen’s memory as it was when Moin Khan hit the winning boundary on that day.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2015.
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