It was on March 17, 2007 when world cricket started taking the minnows seriously. A few days before Saint Patrick’s Day, the Irish cricket team had caused arguably the biggest upset in World Cup history. On a green Sabina Park pitch, Trent Johnston, Ireland’s captain won the toss and invited Inzamam-ul Haq’s boys to bat.
The summer of 2010 was indeed a horrifying one for the Pakistan cricket team and its fans all around the globe. Three Pakistani players were accused of falling prey to the evil of spot-fixing in the fourth and final Test match between England and Pakistan at Lord’s. These players were key members of the Pakistani squad: captain Salman Butt, swing sensation Mohammad Asif and boy wonder Mohammad Aamer.
The first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off in April 2008 and took the world by storm. Cricket fans from all over the globe enjoyed this T20 spectacle as Shane Warne led a spirited Rajasthan Royals side to an unexpected victory.
The 2003 cricket World Cup in South Africa was the last global tournament to host a Pakistani team full of superstars — steady openers, lethal fast bowlers and world class middle-order.
