This was an era of cricket.
The game is still played and followed but the craze is not like those days. This was also an era when Cricket was "ailing" in its place of birth - England; but thrived in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and not forgetting Pakistan.
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| Sachin Tendulkar and Akram in action |
Of course, India defeated Pakistan by 47 runs in the Super Six match of the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup on June 8, 1999, at Old Trafford in Manchester. Led by fast bowler Wasim Akram, Pakistan also suffered two notable defeats against Bangladesh and South Africa during the tournament.
Akram's effigies were burned and the Urdu daily 'Jung' blared -- "Sack Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi".
Can you believe there were rumblings in the corridors of power ?
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sought reports on the three successive defeats of Pakistan in key matches including against Bangladesh and India.
Of course, Pakistan's loss to Bangladesh and India still rankled; - many in Islamabad called it a tragedy of epic dimension and even national calamity. Akram's team ensured they beat Zimbabwe to qualify for semi finals and in one swoop knocked India out of the world cup.
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| Wristy bastman Azaharuddin - had many failures later in his career |
In India, as expected - the guillotine was suggested for Indian captain, Mohd Azharuddin. The fact of the matter is the demand for his head grew shriller once India lost to Australia. Of course there was so-called desi mood swing in the opposite direction when India defeated Pakistan. Not surprisingly; even virtues were discovered in Azhar's captaincy ... virtually all of a sudden.
Cricket had actually become - in India and in the countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka --- an obsession and even more than a passion.
For Bangladesh - given their image of an underdog - excitement did run high after Scotland was 'outsmarted'. But perhaps nobody expected what was in store in the match against Pakistanis.
As the media reports later said ... against all odds; the Bangladesh team came up trumps and became overnight heroes. The players were immediately installed on the same pedestal as freedom fighters.
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| Bangladesh - Joyous ! |
On May 31, 1999, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 62 runs in a landmark group-stage match at the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999 played at the County Ground in Northampton, England.
Many years later in 2022, Dhaka's 'Daily Star' newspaper reported - "23 years ago, on this day, a historic chapter had unfolded in Bangladesh's cricket. Inspired by an all-round performance from Khaled Mahmud, Bangladesh beat a legendary Pakistan side by 62 runs in the 1999 World Cup.
"We were under no pressure in that game. We knew that Pakistan are favourites in that World Cup. They had won all the four matches before playing us. So we had no pressure on us and we just wanted to enjoy the game," Mahmud had said about the game.
When the squad touched down at Dhaka, a boisterous crowd received them and an ecstatic Sheikh Hasina declared a half-day government holiday.
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| Sri Lanka's star player and hero of 1996 World Cup - Ranatunga |
Sri Lanka entered the 1999 Cricket World Cup as defending champions, but suffered a disappointing campaign, failing to progress past the group stage (finishing 5th in Group A with 4 points). It lost to England by 8 wickets. South Africa won by 89 runs. Lost to India by 157 runs.
Paradoxically, India took the revenge of a disastrous semi final of 1996 in Kolkata (Calcutta).
The newspapers back home in Colombo fulminated. One comment said - "thugs, bookies and sycophants" have held cricket to ransom in the island nation.
"I have been asking for Ranatunga's replacement. But it has fallen on deaf ears," remarked an angry radio commentator Palitha Perera. It did not end with that.
In a letter, Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga wrote: "I am afraid if this unsavoury trend in handling sensitive matters is not arrested, Sri Lankan cricket is bound to be adversely affected".
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| Bangladesh win against Pakistan was historic |
ends
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