Waqar looking to emulate class of 1992

2015 World Cup

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes his side can emulate the team of 1992 and lift the World Cup, after they beat South Africa by 29 runs in a thrilling World Cup Pool B match in Auckland on Saturday.

At the 1992 event, also in Australia and New Zealand, Pakistan lost their first five matches before going on to lift the trophy under legendary allrounder Imran Khan.

At this year's tournament the Asian team lost their opening two matches convincingly, against India and West Indies, and were already written off by some experts at home and abroad.

They have bounced back, first beating lesser nations Zimbabwe and the UAE and now getting on top against a high-flying South Africa team that scored totals of 400 in their last two outings. In Auckland they were dismissed for 202, chasing 232.

Waqar said: "The World Cup means pressure games and in 1992 the team handled the pressure very well. They lost early games but then came back strongly, they had the belief and (captain) Imran Khan had serious belief and I am hopeful that the same belief is coming into our dressing room.

"We are going to get better and better. We are gaining that belief that we can deliver. I am not going to think that far but, of course, we are heading in the right direction."

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