The 1992 ICC Cricket World Cup is best remembered for two things: the emergence of Imran Khan-led Pakistan as world conquerors and the introduction of coloured clothing on the cricketing world’s biggest stage.
But the ‘Benson and Hedges World Cup’ also started a trend which has so far lasted over two decades and six different editions of the World Cup.
Beginning 1992, every World Cup final has witnessed an Asian team in action.
In 1992 Pakistan took on England at the MCG, in 1996 Sri Lanka’s claimed their first World Cup title by defeating Australia in the final held at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Australia then won three consecutive world titles, starting in 1999, under the leadership of Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. During those days the Aussies were an unstoppable lot comprising an ably balanced squad with Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Michael Bevan, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.
As the ICC World Cup travelled across three continents between 1999 and 2007, two things remained constant. The first one was obviously the Aussies’ winning streak, the second was Asian opposition in the final.
At Lord’s in 1999, Australia registered a convincing eight-wicket victory over Pakistan. India were defeated by 125 runs in the final at Wanderers in Johannesburg in 2003, and Sri Lanka lost in 2007 by 35 runs, enabling Australia to grab the first World Cup held in the West Indies.
These victories will forever remind us of the greatness of the Australian players of that era. Their legacy stands as strong as those who brought pride to the Caribbean by bagging the two inaugural World Cup trophies in 1975 and 1979.
What went unnoticed amidst these triumphs was the manner in which the Asians continued to challenge Australian hegemony despite the three continental giants failing to even put forth a fierce contest in the finals.
But when the World Cup came to the Indian sub-continent in 2011, it was truly Asia’s time.
The final, held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, not only led to the fulfilment of the boyhood dream of cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar but for the first time ever, the cricket world saw an All-Asian final – India versus Sri Lanka!
The previous six World Cups are testimony to the fact that cricket has become an Asian sport, so it does not come as a surprise that an Asian team knocked out the very pioneers of the ‘gentleman’s game’.
By defeating England in the crucial World Cup tie at Adelaide, Bangladesh proved that cricket has truly emerged as an egalitarian sport. A game which is viewed by many as a colonial legacy of the imperial times is being dominated not by the colonialists but by the colonies – Australia included.
Three Asian teams have already booked their place in the quarter-finals, but what remains to be seen is whether another Asian team will make the final.
More importantly, will an Asian squad lift the trophy as India did four years? Will Australia register a record-breaking fifth title, or will the Kiwis or Proteas get a shot at the their first?
SM
Guest
This is a wonderful comment.
pat malone
Guest
well when you consider that Asia represents about half of the competitive teams in world cricket and approx 90% of the worlds cricketers, its not surprising that they make world cup finals. 1.6 billion people live in the sub continent
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Agree with everything here, Vas. The pact between BCCI, CA, and the ECB is terrible for the development of cricket on a global scale.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
It doesn't matter what sport it is, when it comes to World Cups, the Poms are useless.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Good article Saif about the rise of Asia since 1992. In Bangladesh's case, this has many similarities to Sri Lanka's rise in 1996. I am not sure about your comment regarding cricket becoming more egalitarian though. While the old colonial duopoly of Australia and England is definitely broken up (laughably in England's case), I would argue now that cricket is now India's monopoly, using their financial influence and power in the Asian bloc with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's tacit consent to manipulate the game in its favour. We are only beginning to see the outcome of this. The West Indies' problems are not exclusively caused by the issues of India owning world cricket, but they now live in a corporate environment that has proven to be the Windies' kryptonite. New Zealand's strong team currently masks what is otherwise an unstable entity that will be ignored once this current crop of fantastic NZ cricketers are a thing of the past. Sri Lanka's players continue to battle their own board to get paid, and don't even get me started on the multitude of issues surrounding Pakistan. In four years time, we will see a game even further designed to favour India's financial interest. This pact between the BCCI, CA and the ECB means cricket is rapidly becoming less egalitarian, as the sport we all love becomes the plaything for those who seek to make most money of it, at the expense of the global growth of our game - a truly egalitarian concept.
moaman
Guest
Well done Bangladesh! Thoroughly deserved win.