Let's Hope Imran's Heirs Can Return Home Soon

I grew up mesmerised by those beguiling Pakistani teams of the Nineties.

Imran Khan’s “cornered tigers” at the 1992 World Cup were the first team to have truly captivated me. It was Pakistan at their most dazzling and daring – when everything memorably meshed.

After the retirement of the charismatic Imran, Pakistan were unable to tap into the same consistency and were often infuriatingly unpredictable. But at least they remained highly entertaining and capable of beating anyone if their talents harnessed properly.

For better or worse, Pakistan were always essential viewing until a downturn in the Noughties when they suddenly became shockingly mundane. Worse was to come through off-field turmoil starting with a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009, which resulted in a prolonged absence of international cricket in Pakistan.

It all hit a nadir with the ugly spot fixing scandal in 2010 and Pakistan cricket appeared headed for a painstaking death. Fortunately, things have picked up since – slowly at first before reaching some lofty heights under the stout leadership of veteran coach Mickey Arthur.

Pakistan’s astounding triumph at last year’s Champions Trophy was one of cricket’s most heart-warming tales and a reminder of how greatly they have been missed after a period of irrelevance.

Off-field, an improved security situation in the country has fuelled hope of cricket’s re-emergence in Pakistan. Zimbabwe, the West Indies and an International Cricket Council XI have played limited-overs series there in recent years. A growing number of Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches have been played in Pakistan, too.