44 Friday Sports Friday, June 28, 2019 1992 all over again as Pakistan take identical World Cup path Countering Yasir is Australia’s ‘number one’ priority: Siddle BIRMINGHAM:Twenty-seven years and a gen- “That’s history but after we won against New eration apart, Pakistan’s World Cup bears striking Zealand someone told me that even in 1992 we similarities with their 1992 campaign — when chased down New Zealand’s target with five balls they started slowly but ended up lifting the trophy to spare,” said Sarfaraz, whose team reached their in Melbourne. An identical sequence of wins and 238-run target in 49.1 overs on Wednesday. Fans losses, and other eerie parallels, have struck a are now hoping that the similarities don’t end chord with millions of fans who believe that Pak- there, and even that they continue beyond the istan could be set to come out on top once again. World Cup. “Imran Khan was Pakistan captain in In both World Cups, Pakistan started with a 1992 World Cup and 26 years after that triumph one-sided defeat to the West Indies, before re- he became country’s prime minister, so Sarfaraz covering to win their second game — against should also join politics and become premier in Zimbabwe in 1992, and England this time around. 2045,” said one comment on social media. At both tournaments, their third game was rained off and they then went on to lose their next two ‘Belief is key’ games and win the following two. Not only that, Babar Azam says Pakistan have the belief they but the final win in both sequences was against can win their remaining games to complete a dra- New Zealand, who were unbeaten in both 1992 matic turnaround and reach the World Cup semi- and 2019 until they ran into Pakistan. finals following victory against a strong New “It was same, the same sequence of results, Zealand side on Wednesday. The 24-year-old hit BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan’s Babar Azam celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) during the 2019 points and then we wanted Australia to beat the a match-winning unbeaten 101 to anchor Pak- Cricket World Cup group stage match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Edgbaston. — AFP West Indies for us to qualify,” said legendary fast istan’s reply to New Zealand’s score of 237 for six bowler Wasim Akram, who played for Pakistan in at Edgbaston. 1992. “Then also we beat New Zealand — who Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed hit the winning runs Sri Lanka are also in the hunt, one point be- “We were not winning matches but we talked to was unbeaten then too. A lot of similarities, I hope in the final over as they finished on 241-4 to win hind but with a game in hand, meaning 1992 win- each other and had the belief that we could do it the end result is also similar now and we win the by six wickets. Pakistan had a disastrous start to ners Pakistan must still rely on other results and now our focus is on the next game,” he said. World Cup,” said Wasim, now a TV commentator. their World Cup campaign, losing three of their going in their favour to qualify from the 10-team Defending champions Australia are the only team In another similarity, Wasim was the leading first five matches with a single victory, against group phase. “Belief has been the key,” said to have qualified for the semi-finals so far while wicket-taker in 1992 with 18 and another Pakistan England, and a no-result. Babar, who reached his 10th one-day interna- New Zealand, India and England currently oc- left-arm pacer, Mohammad Amir, is second on the Their next game is on Saturday against tional hundred off 124 balls with 11 fours. “We cupy the other top-four slots. Babar said his role bowler’s chart with 16 so far. “I am not sure if Afghanistan, who have lost all seven of their have the belief that we will win our next two had been to bat until the end of the innings. “I was players are following all these (discussions) but matches at the tournament in England and games and then look ahead.” given a role to bat until the end and others bat this should motivate them,” said Wasim. But Pak- Wales and they finish their group fixtures Babar, 24, said even when the team were around me and that worked well as (Mohammad) istan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed played down any against Bangladesh, who are level with Pakistan struggling earlier in the tournament, they were Hafeez and then Haris (Sohail) batted well to es- parallels with 1992. on seven points. confident they could turn their fortunes around. tablish partnerships,” said Babar. — AFP recent criticism of the sport has been misjudged and, Rampant Mercedes some observers believe, may indicate a widespread lack of understanding or other factors. Root: England must keep revisit scene of its Unexpected twists In particular, he pointed out that Hamilton is under- appreciated, notably in his native Britain, and should be cool heads in India match darkest hour recognized as “maybe the best driver that has ever ex- isted.” He also warned that Spielberg’s short lap, the al- SPIELBERG: Five days after a one-two triumph so BIRMINGHAM: Joe Root expects emotions to run high against India on titude in the Styrian Alps, and forecasts of another comprehensive it sparked heated debate about Formula Sunday in a game England may have to win to reach the World Cup semi- weekend of searing heat, could make cooling a problem finals in their home tournament. A heavy defeat by Australia at Lord’s on Tues- One’s future, Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team revisit this for everyone and throw up a race packed with unex- day was England’s third defeat of the tournament and leaves their hopes of weekend the scene of last season’s darkest hour. Team pected twists. “What is clear for us is that we need to reaching the knockout stage in the balance. chief Toto Wolff, a native Austrian who knows the Spiel- keep working diligently, stay humble and give it every- England are in fourth place in the 10-team table but are now just one point berg circuit well, described the double DNF (Did Not thing to do a better job than we managed 12 months ago,” ahead of Bangladesh and Pakistan and two clear of Sri Lanka. The top four Finish) in last year’s Austrian Grand Prix as the team’s he said. Rivals Ferrari, meanwhile, still stinging from the sides qualify for the semi-finals. Winning their last two group games would lowest point in an otherwise hugely-successful season. setbacks suffered in Canada and France, plan to intro- secure a semi-final spot but seeing off both India and New Zealand would re- “That race was a cruel reminder of how quickly things duce more upgrades as they seek to resolve their car’s quire a sharp improvement from a side who have lost their way since starting can go wrong in our sport and that reliability and per- performance problems. the campaign as clear favorites. formance go hand in hand in F1,” he said. “This year, our They used a new floor and updated front and rear When they walk out at Edgbaston this weekend, swathes of fans from race finishing record has been good, but it would be com- wings at Le Castellet, without success, reverting back Birmingham’s big British Asian community will be backing India, heaping the placent to ignore the fact that for two weekends in a row to a previous floor during the weekend. “We brought pressure on the home side. “I personally think we have to be very calm about now, our mechanics had to perform the equivalent of some upgrades, some worked well, others not,” said how we approach the next couple of games because the games themselves ‘open-heart surgery’ on our cars. “We’ve faced a number team boss Mattia Binotto. “I think it’s always a shame might get quite emotional, especially with the atmosphere at Edgbaston,” said of different issues on different components, each of which when something is not working so we’ve got some Test captain Root. could have easily caused us to retire, so we need to get homework to do, but that’s ensuring that we’ve got some “We believe we’re still more than capable of qualifying for the semi-finals on top of those challenges as quickly as possible.” margin to improve the car.” He added that Ferrari were and when that happens, it doesn’t really matter how you got there because that’s Despite those emergencies in Montreal and Le set to consider reducing outright straight-line speed in when the tournament really starts to kick in,” he added. “We’ll see these two Castellet, Mercedes proved they have the resources and favor of adding down-force to improve cornering. After games as quarter-finals if you like, which in a way when it comes round to the staff to cope and respond — demonstrating why they are finishing third, with Charles Leclerc, and seventh, with knockout stage should serve you well. “You’re going to have to win big games an exceptional champion team and not solely reliant on Sebastian Vettel, Binotto said they were pleased to be at some stage in the tournament if you’re going to go on and win it, so it may Hamilton’s extraordinary talent.