The 2019 edition of Cricket World Cup Odyssey, which has been edited by journalist and Editor Shoaib Ahmed, chronicles the journey in the ICC Men’s World Cup from 1975 to 2015. Though it was released as a curtain-raiser to the ICC Cricket World Cup of 2019, the book embodies all the characteristics of a historical text on the subject. With its up-to-date analysis of how the tournament has evolved over the decades, the edition should serve as a useful guide to cricket aficionados and commentators.
In his foreword, former team captain Asif Iqbal – who led the Pakistani team to the ICC World Cup in 1975 – reminisces about the golden era when the sport was played “in white clothing with red balls and without the field-placing restrictions”. Despite these seemingly nostalgic musings, the former captain doesn’t dwell too heavily on the past and skillfully situates the performance of Pakistan’s cricket team within the wider context of the ICC tournament. According to Iqbal, it is difficult to ignore the fact that the “dusty plains of the Subcontinent” are the ideal home of world cricket - a bold assertion that challenges the Lord’s Cricket Stadium’s reputation as the “mecca” of the sport. In a nutshell, the emphasis of Iqbal’s analysis remains on assessing how the tournament has engendered the universal appeal of cricket.
Building on a similar theme, Shoaib Ahmed’s preface highlights the enduring relevance of the ICC World Cup in fostering cricket-oriented diplomacy across the world. By taking a short trip down memory lane, the editor’s introductory note explores how the World Cup has served as a unifying force for a diverse group of players, provided opportunities to talented cricketers, and entertained “TV viewers, internet buffs and radio audiences” on a global scale.
A quick glance at the overall structure of the book indicates that the feats of the eleven ICC world cups don’t necessarily have to be accessed in a chronological order. Cricket World Cup Odyssey analyses each of these ICC tournaments in descending order and still manages to capture the flavour of each event without compromising on the historical scope of the project. By examining each installment of the Cricket World Cup in a vacuum, the book makes a voyage between the past and the present. What emerges is a succinct yet all-encompassing analysis on the subject. All insights have been substantiated with facts and details that are portrayed in an objective manner.
Although the book doesn’t specifically focus on the individual journey of the Pakistan cricket team at the ICC World Cup, it does make references to some of its accomplishments. A chapter titled ‘Triumph of the Cornered Tigers’ reminds readers about the crucial developments that led to the Pakistan team’s victory at the World Cup 1992 in Melbourne. At a time when cricket has been tainted with controversies in Pakistan, the mere mention of this historic event appears to be a noble endeavour to boost the team’s morale.
There should be more books on the subject in a country like Pakistan where cricket has been a subject for controversy and conjecture. Though cricket is described as a ‘gentleman’s game’ and is often viewed as a remnant of the colonial past, the sport remains widely popular in Pakistan. In fact, cricket has been perceived as one of the key catalysts that impacts the country’s ties with some other countries.
On the national front, the game offers a convenient distraction from, if not a panacea to, all the problems that plague the nation. Despite the controversies that emanated from the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, the inconsistencies in the cricket team’s performance and the complacency of the cricket bureaucracy, the sport has remained closely aligned with the fabric of social life in the country. In light of these circumstances, a coffee-table book on the subject could even encourage the Pakistani nation to revisit the halcyon days of the sport.
Laden with engaging facts, statistics, memorable photographs and historical insights, Cricket World Cup Odyssey further empowers the role of the ICC in enhancing the efficacy and magnetic appeal of the game.
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