Wasim Akram's match winning performance in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup triumph

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 04 Jan 2023

On this day 29 years ago, Pakistan lifted its first and only World Cup title under the captaincy of Imran Khan, who is now the prime minister of the country.

To mark the day, the International Cricket Council (ICC) shared a video of former captain Wasim Akram's match-winning performance in the final against England.

In the final, Pakistan had won the toss and Khan had decided to bat first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Pakistan had propelled to 249 due to Javed Miandad and Imran Khan's half-centuries, while Akram and Inzamam ul Haq's cameos at the back of the innings helped Pakistan give England a target of 250.

While defending the total, Akram starred with the ball and picked three wickets in his 10 overs for 49 runs. Akram picked up the crucial wickets of Ian Botham, Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis. At one point in the game, he was also on the verge of taking a hat trick in the final.

Leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed also picked three wickets, with Aqib Javed taking two and Khan picking a wicket.

The 1992 World Cup remains Pakistan's only triumph in the global event. It had come close to winning its second World Cup in 1999, but lost the final to Australia.