In a recent discussion, former Pakistan cricketer Mudassar Nazar opened up about the immense pressure the national team faced during the 1990s, particularly when losing matches to India. He highlighted that every defeat sparked widespread speculation about match-fixing, creating a climate of distrust and fear among players. Nazar’s comments shed light on how public perception affected the team’s performance and morale during a pivotal era in Pakistan cricket history.
The Weight of Public Perception
Nazar explained that the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan heightened scrutiny on the team’s performance. He noted that fans were often unwilling to accept losses as legitimate, leading to rampant speculation about foul play. This environment created an atmosphere where players felt they had to constantly prove their integrity.
The 1990s were marred by various match-fixing scandals that plagued cricket in general, and Pakistan was no exception. Nazar pointed out that these scandals not only tarnished the reputation of individual players but also cast a shadow over the entire team, making it difficult for them to focus solely on the game.
“I think if you look at Pakistan’s team in the 90s, they were, talent wise, as good as Australia in the 90s. But it was a sheer fear factor of losing the game, and I’m going to be a little bit controversial here,” Mudassar said in the closing remarks of the Cricket Predicta Conclave here.
“The controversy is behind match fixing. There was a lot of pressure on the Pakistan team because every time they lost a game, people thought the game was dubious, the game was fixed. Nobody was prepared to accept that they actually lost to a better team.
Fear Among Players
Nazar candidly admitted that the fear of being accused of match-fixing affected the players’ mindset on the field. He stated, “We became increasingly fearful of public perception,” indicating how this anxiety could impact their performance during crucial matches, especially against rivals like India.
Mudassar, who was 68 years old, represented Pakistan from 1976 to 1989. In 76 Test matches and 122 One-Day Internationals, he amassed 6767 runs and claimed 177 wickets. “Therefore, I was a member of that team that was scared of losing the game at some point in the early 1990s, and that was solely because of match fixing or fear of people thinking the match was fixed,” he continued.
“A defeat to India will exacerbate matters due to the fierce competition between the two adjacent countries. You also include the element of competing against India in that equation. No Indian or Pakistani wanted to lose the match. We saw that in Sharjah, which is why the India vs Pakistan match was so significant. That wasn’t the case with the cricket, but with the general public probably. There was a lot of pressure there. Unfortunately, the match-fixing saga took its toll on Pakistan team,” Mudassar said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) established a judicial panel led by Justice Malik Qayyum to look into the allegations of fixing in the middle of the 1990s. The commission recommended a life sentence for former captain Salim Malik for fixing and pacer Ata-ur-Rehman for perjury after an 18-month investigation.
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