How great were the best Pakistani test teams compared to all-time great test sides?

[Harsh Thakor]

Arguably no nation in the game's history posessed as much volatile talent as Pakistan .At junctures it was International cricket's greatest powerhouse of talent.It all but won series in England in 1971 and Australia in 1972-73.It was in 1976 that Mushtaq Muhammad galvanised a bunch of talented individuals into a world beating force which gave both Australia and West Indies a strong run for their money.From 1979-81 Pakistani cricket went into slumbers but was again resurrected by Imran Khan under how the nation had its cricketing rennaissaince.

Under Imran Pakistan won their 1st ever series in India and England and dubious umpiring decisions robbed them off a 1st series win on West Indies soil in 1988 and thus the unofficial world championship title.In 1987 it conquered one of the strongest Englsih sides ever .No team had been undefeated in a series in West Indies since 1974.

Sadly after 198 Pakistan did not capitalize on their ascendancy and let West Indies wrest the initiative as the test champion team.It failed to win in Australia in 1989-90 in New Zealand in 1989 and in a home series against the Calypos in 1990.

After Imran's retirement Pakistan gave glimpses of their days in ascendancy or glory but were most erratic.Under Wasim Akram in mid 1990's it won series in England and drew in South Africa ,but were grounded to the pulp in Australia.It was sad to see a team with such vast reservoirs of potential capitulate the way it did.Man to man it was possibly the best team in the world in mid 1990's.


With a measuring tape in my hand considering having Imran as a skipper and such a potent attack I would rank 1986-1989 Pakistan team as the best Pakistan and Asian team ever.Its performance in West Indies in 1988 speaks for itself.India never beat such as strong English side or drew against the best of Australian teams in Australia.At home arguably India of 201-2004 was the best Asian team ever .


Overall Pakistan of 1986-89 is a worthy contender for the spot amongst the all-time great test teams.It is neck to neck with South Africa led by Graeme Smith from 2008-2012 and South Africa from 1996-2000 led by Hanse Cronje.The latter won a test series in India being the 1st overseas team to do so for a period of 15 years.Unlike Pakistan South Africa 3 times beat Australia on their very soil.Still not the greatest of Australian teams.If I scale the standard of opposition and quantity of cricket played in addition to overall team balance I would give Imran's team the slender edge.No tea,m ever had such a diverse or talented bowling attack as that side and few had such great batting depth which existed till no 10.

Thus overall Clive Lloyd's West Indies team and the Australian teams led by Ian Chappell,Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting rank ahead of Imran's Pakistanis amongst sides of the last 50 years.Arguably 1969-70 South African team was better with such an abundance of allrounders and probaly the teams led by Frank Worrell and Don Bradman.

For pure talent on paper Pakistan of 1999 was the best Asian team ever with the likes of Inzamam, Mohamad Yousuf, Saed Anwar,Salim Malik,Ejaz Ahmed etc in the batting line up and bowlers like Wasim,Waqar.Akhtar ,Saqlain etcMan to man it was comparable to Australia of that time.

Edited April 13, 2020 by Harsh Thakor

[Norman]

Lol this guy is a closet padosi troll. 

 

Now I get why his reputation is in the negative...

[Straight Drive]

LOL. When was Pak team greatest power House of cricket ? Which and how many years exactly did Pak team dominate?

 

 

[Gollum]

Since 2003

The summary of teams that have held the highest rating from June 2003 to the present by whole month periods are:

Team	Total Months	Highest Rating
Australia	83	143
India	64	130
South Africa	42	135
England	12	125
Pakistan	2	111
Reference: ICC Historical Rankings

 

Overall (retrospectively applied) since 1952

The summary of teams that have held the highest rating from 1952 to the present by whole month periods are:

Team	Total Months	Highest Rating
Australia	326	143
West Indies	235	135
England	106	125
India	88	130
South Africa	61	135
Pakistan	4	111
Reference: ICC Historical Rankings

[zen]

3 hours ago, Harsh Thakor said:

For pure talent on paper Pakistan of 1999 was the best Asian team ever with the likes of Inzamam, Mohamad Yousuf, Saed Anwar,Salim Malik,Ejaz Ahmed etc in the batting line up and bowlers like Wasim,Waqar.Akhtar ,Saqlain etcMan to man it was comparable to Australia of that time.

If Pak was comparable to Aus, what is its record against Aus? Those must have been close contests

Edited April 13, 2020 by zen

[MechEng]

That same Pakistani side could not win against a weakened Aussie side in 80s

 

I rate the English team which we faced in 2011 ahead of Imran Khan's side of late 80s.

[MechEng]

@Harsh Thakor 

 

You mention that Pakistan was robbed due to bad decisions in WI, how about touring sides getting bad decisions in Pakistan when Miandad was never given lbw? Remember Shakoor Rana?

 

Ganguly's team 2001-2004 would beat Imran Khan's test side in late 1980s because even though Pakistan may have had most raw talent in Asia, they could never really play as a team on a consistent basis.

 

[Ankit_sharma03]

Few months ago 

 

Shastri said - this indian side is as good as great WI n Aus side

Today this thread

 

WI n Aus great side players must be thinking was our legacy a joke 

[rtmohanlal]

Pakistan were robbed off as per the OP. But other teams were robbed of by Pak ball tampering by   several levels higher than that

[sukhoi]

difference was yesteryear teams of Pakistan did not have DOZENS OF CAMERA AREOUND STAIDUM HENCE WAS DEFATING TEAMS

 

current Pakistani Team HAVE DOZENS OF CAMERA AROUND STADIUM HENCE LOSING BADLY TO TEAMS

[Khota]

11 hours ago, Harsh Thakor said:

Under Imran Pakistan won their 1st ever series in India and England and dubious umpiring decisions robbed them off a 1st series win on West Indies soil in 1988 and thus the unofficial world championship title.In 1987 it conquered one of the strongest Englsih sides ever .No team had been undefeated in a series in West Indies since 1974.

 

You do understand now why people on this forum do not take you seriously.

[raki05]

This Harsh Thakur guy is in the process of transitioning to peaceful, hence paying allegiance by creating 1000 threads on bhikhari-stan.