Review of the 1999 Cricket World Cup Final

I don`t think the team fought in the final. They just quit, like they had the wind knocked out of them. I`m sorry i ever beleived in them.



Players to nix immediately:

Shahid Afridi (been around long enough to have improved his technique, hasn`t, so back to domestic cricket for a few years would be best for Shahid)

Saleem Malik (Retiring ingloriously anyway)

Ijaz Ahmed (too many chances, too much failure for one with so much experience to excuse) Many more talented players can replace him, Basit Ali or Aamer Sohail and maybe we can get some consistency which Ijaz so lacks (except in failure)

If Match fixing allegations are conclusively proven, all concerned players should immediately be banned for life, even Wasim Akram, if he is involved, despite his immense value to the team.

Aamer Sohail should be brought back into the team to keep everyone on their toes despite his tendency to get into conflict with other players. Too good a batsman to simply ignore, although miserable as a captain.

Good analysis as usual. I thought though that Wasim`s post match speech was not all that good. He did well to thank the his team but almost said nothing about the hugely disappointing performance in the final and surrendered almost unconditionally to the Australians. I thought it was forced...how could he be a satisfied man after that performance? He could have given people something to hang on...something like we are a young team and cracked under pressure but will be back. I know all these things are obvious but these little things make dealing with the pain a little bit easier for some of us.

A slightly edited Wasim Akram`s World Cup speech
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Congratulations to Australia for winning th World cup. The better side won against us TODAY! I can`t begin to voice the profound disappointment that we, as a team, and as a nation feel at this moment. I am today a disappointed man - AND a satisfied man, nonetheless, that my team mates are talented, capable, and fully charged with the potential to bring home the cup and many more cups in the future. We made it to the semi-finals through our diligence and passion - a good team should not let and WILL not let adversities and pejudices bring it down. I am remain a satisfied man - with an eye towrds the future. Congrats, once again to the Australian team. And thanks for all the support, Pakistani fans, stay tuned..