New Delhi: Pakistan feared losing in 1990s, particularly to India, as a negative perception associated with the spectrum of match fixing loomed large on the cricket team during that period, former opener Mudassar Nazar has said.
Pakistan had a star-studded team in the 90s and won the ODI World Cup in 1992 under the leadership of Imran Khan. But every defeat sparked suspicions of mixing and pressure was unbearable as players struggled to cope with negative public perception.
“I think if you look at Pakistan’s team in the 90s, they were, talent wise, as good as Australia in the 90s. But it was a sheer fear factor of losing the game, and I’m going to be a little bit controversial here,” Nazar said, as quoted by PTI.
“The controversy is behind match fixing. There was a lot of pressure on the Pakistan team because every time they lost a game, people thought the game was dubious, the game was fixed. Nobody was prepared to accept that they actually lost to a better team.”
Nazar scored 6767 runs in 76 Tests and 122 ODIs while claiming 177 wickets across the two formats between 1976 and 1989.
‘Fear factor’
Nazar recalled the intense rivalries between India and Pakistan in Sharjah and players of both teams were very keen to win the contest. The match used to grab huge eyeballs and played in packed stadiums.
“So, at some stage in the early 90s, I was part of that team which was fearful of losing the game, and that was entirely due to match fixing or fear of people believing the match was fixed,” he added.
“You add another factor there, which is the factor of playing against India. No Pakistani, no Indian, wanted to lose the game. We’ve seen that in Sharjah and that’s why India versus Pakistan here was such a big event.
“That wasn’t the case with the cricket, but with the general public probably. There was a lot of pressure there. Unfortunately, the match-fixing saga took its toll on Pakistan team,” Mudassar said.
The fixing saga rocked Pakistan cricket in the 90s with the Pakistan Cricket Board forming a committee headed by Justice Malik Qayyum to investigate claims.
The commission found former captain Salim Malik of fixing and pacer Ata-ur-Rehman of perjury, after enquiring for 18 months, recommending life bans on them.
The Qayyum commission also suggested fines on some cricketers who did not cooperate during the inquiry process.
Mudassar Nazar said every defeat in 1990s, particularly to India, sparked suspicions of mixing and pressure was unbearable as players struggled to cope with negative public perception. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
