The fact that Pakistan’s only World Cup title was won when Australia and New Zealand hosted it in 1992, has given the fans and the team to cherish hopes of a title triumph once again.
Let’s give a look to how the players in green have been performing at different grounds, where they will play their group and might play knockout matches, Down Under.
Adelaide Oval:
After few warm-up matches, Pakistan will start its World Cup campaign with a match against arch-rival India at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide in Australia on February 15. With exactly a month later on March 15, Pakistan will face their World Cup 2007 nemesis Ireland also here at Adelaide Oval, which will be their last group match. Pakistan has not a good record in Adelaide Oval having won only three matches out of the 15 matches it played. Adelaide Oval will also host third quarterfinal on March 20.
Hagley Oval:
After the match against India, Pakistan will travel to New Zealand to play its second World Cup match against West Indies on February 21 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Pakistan has not played in Hagley Oval nor did West Indies. In fact Hagley Oval has just recently, in October 2014, been passed fit by the ICC to host international cricket.
Brisbane Cricket Ground:
Pakistan will then arrive back in Australia to face minnows Zimbabwe on March 1 at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane. Pakistan chances are high against Zimbabwe but Pakistan has lost eight out of the 15 matches it played at Brisbane Cricket Ground and won six with two matches having no result. Pakistan also lost a match against South Africa here during their dream World Cup 1992 campaign.
Mclean Park:
With only a couple of days gap Pakistan will against head to New Zealand to play against lowly United Arab Emirates at McLean Park in Napier. Pakistan has played five ODIs there, all against hosts losing four of them and winning only one.
Eden Park:
Pakistan will then face Protease on March 7 at Eden Park, Auckland, where they won the World Cup 1992 semifinal encounter against host New Zealand. Inzimam-ul-Haq played a memorable 60 run off 37 balls in the match to take Pakistan to the victory stand. In all, Pakistan has played ten matches at Eden Park, all against hosts with four winning and losing as many while one match tied and one was with no result. Eden Park will also host first semifinal match on March 24.
Westpac Stadium:
Situated on top of a hill, Westpac Stadium in Wellington (New Zealand) will host fourth the quarterfinal match on March 21. Pakistan has played only three ODIs there and they were also all against New Zealand. They won only one match and lost two out of the three outings.
Sydney Cricket Ground:
Sydney Cricket Ground is one of the world’s most famous grounds with a capacity little over 40,000. The venue will host the first quarterfinal on March 18 and later also the second semifinal on March 26. Pakistan has played twenty ODIs here winning only six and losing fourteen. It was here when India defeated Pakistan in World Cup 1992 before the later made a strong comeback in the tournament to eventually win the title.
Melbourne Cricket Ground:
Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the second quarterfinal on March 19 and later also the grand final on March 29. Although Pakistan didn’t have fared well at Melbourne Cricket Ground losing fourteen of the twenty-two matches it has played there, however it was here at this ground when Pakistan skipper Imran Khan along with his charges lifted Pakistan’s most coveted trophy after beating England in World Cup final on March 25, 1992. The whole nation hopes that they would be able to do the same in World Cup 2015 as well.
