Pakistan World Cup Winner

The Pakistan Cricket Team will be led by star batsman Babar Azam in the forthcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.

The Men in Green will look to do an encore of 1992, when the legendary Imran Khan and his troops scripted history by beating England in the final at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to lift their maiden and only World Cup title till date.

Since then, Pakistan did come close to claiming their 2nd title in 1999, but were eventually denied by a rampaging Australian team in the final at Lord's.

As Babar Azam and his men look to bring their country World Cup glory, here's a look at Pakistan's victorious WC campaign in 1992.

Cornered Tigers conquer the world to claim the World title

Pakistan's World Cup campaign in 1992 started on a bad note as they lost fast bowler Waqar Younis due to injury.

Already handicapped by injuries, it didn't help Pakistan's cause that their players took time to get accustomed to the conditions of Australia and New Zealand.

As a result, they got drubbed by 10 wickets by the West Indies in their campaign opener. They thrashed Zimbabwe by 53 runs in their 2nd game in Hobart, but were extremely lucky to escape a defeat against England in the following game after having got shot out for a mere 74 runs.

The inclement weather at the Adelaide Oval came to their rescue, a moment that would prove to be significant in the larger scheme of things later on in the tournament.

Pakistan's next game was against arch-rivals, India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India had their own issues leading into this high-voltage encounter, but the Mohammad Azharuddin-led unit lifted its game against its No.1 enemy to clinch a clinical 43-run win

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar was the major contributor towards India's victory. The 18-year-old smashed a brilliant half-century besides dismissing opener Aamir Sohail.

Things went from bad to worse in the following game as they went down to South Africa in a rain-affected game.

Having been set a target of 212, Pakistan were moving alone steadily at 74/2 in the 23rd over, when heavy rain brought a halt to the proceedings. The delay brought the 'rain rule' into effect, which mandated that Pakistan would have to surpass 193, representing South Africa's most productive 36 overs.

Inzamam-ul-Haq (48 off 44) and skipper Imran (34 off 52) started aggressively after the post, but both fell in quick succession, the former thanks to a superman-like effort from Jonty Rhodes.

Pakistan eventually lost by 20 runs, and with just 1 vwasry after 5 outings, it left their campaign hanging by the thinnest of threads.

The tiger was cornered, and at his dangerous best. Co-hosts Australia found that out in the next game at the WACA as Aamer Sohail's feisty 76 (104) and an all-round bowling performance- Aqib Javed (3/21 in 8), Wasim Akram (2/28 in 7.2) and Mushtaq Ahmed (3/41 in 10)- propelled the Men in Green to a much-needed 48-run win.

With momentum on their side, the Pakistanis managed to beat Sri Lanka (by 4 wickets) and then a rampaging New Zealand (by 7 wickets) to pip Australia over net run-rate, and qualify for the top-4.

The stag was set for an epic clash against co-hosts New Zealand in front of a packed Eden Park crowd, and the contest eventually lived up to the billing.

Kiwi skipper Martin Crowe lit up the stadium with yet another magical knock of 91 (83) to help the hosts post a formidable 262/7 in 50 overs.

But, in the process, he ended up pulling his hamstring. This meant that he would not take the field for the entirety of Pakistan's run-chase, and this proved to be a critical moment in the game.

Pakistan lost opener Aamer Sohail cheaply, but Ramiz Raja's counter-attacking knock (44 off 55) kept them in the hunt, even as skipper Imran continued to bat slowly at the other end.

Imran scored 44 off 93 deliveries before he was finally dismissed by Chris Harris at the score of 134.

3-134 soon became 4-140 as Saleem Malik fell cheaply to Gavin Larsen. This brought young Inzamam-ul-Haq to the crease, and what followed next was a masterclass in a calculated onslaught by him and the experienced Javed Miandad (57* off 69), which left the Kiwis searching for answers.

Inzi smashed a brutal 37-ball 60, and while he was eventually dismissed, the experienced Miandad and Moin Khan guided their team to their first-ever World Cup final.

In the final, Pakistan batted first and went on to post 249/6 thanks to half-centuries from Imran (72 off 110) and Javed (58 off 98) and brilliant cameos from Inzamam-ul-Haq (42 off 35) and Akram (33* off 18).

In response, England lost early wickets, before Neil Fairbrother (62 off 70) and Allan Lamb (31 off 41) steadied the ship with a 72-run-stand for the 4th wicket.

At 4-131, the game looked in balance, but Wasim had other ideas. The champion left-arm seamer produced a couple of magical deliveries to dismiss Lamb and Chris Lewis to effectively kill the game.

Like Wasim, leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed also chipped in with 3 wickets, as Pakistan dismissed England for 227 in front of a packed MCG to claim the world title.

Pakistan’s highest Run-scorer in World Cup 1992

Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in World Cup 1992