When it comes to Pakistan cricket, often the first thing that comes to mind is a controversy. Or the first thought that some new drama is definitely going to happen. Hardly any fan would think that some good news will come today or the team will be seen doing something amazing. The team’s performance in the recent T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup last year has broken the hearts of Pakistani fans. There are many reasons for the poor condition of the Pakistani team and if a former captain is to be believed, the Pakistani team would have touched new heights in world cricket if that incident had not happened 17 years ago.
What happened 17 years ago?
Now the question is what happened 17 years ago that is affecting Pakistan cricket till date? The answer lies in the ODI World Cup held in West Indies. The same West Indies where the Pakistani team was eliminated in the group stage of the T20 World Cup. Although this time the Pakistani team was eliminated in the group stage held in co-host America, but 17 years ago in the ODI World Cup, it was eliminated in the first round.
Younis Khan was a part of the Pakistani team that suffered a shameful defeat, when Pakistan surrendered in front of a small team like Ireland and was eliminated from the World Cup. This defeat was very shameful in itself and then the next day the head coach of the team Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room. The Pakistani team was shocked by Woolmer’s death under suspicious circumstances. Younis called Woolmer’s death a big loss for Pakistan cricket.
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The situation of Pakistan cricket would have been different
Former Pakistan captain Younis claimed during a TV show that if Bob Woolmer had been alive and had been with the Pakistani team for a long time, then today his country’s cricket would have touched new heights at the world level. Younis said without hesitation that the situation of the Pakistani team would have been completely different today. He also said that he had very good relations with Woolmer and the coach had asked him to prepare for captaincy. Although Woolmer was not there, Younis took over the command of the Pakistani team after some time and made the team win the T20 World Cup title in 2009.