In the end, this total got reduced to 120 matches actually staged as two fixtures were abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. In addition, the Sri Lanka touring team played four first-class matches in Pakistan, three Tests and a side game against a PCB XI at Rawalpindi. This added up the total to 124.

The season for Pakistani cricketers at various levels started in July last year, when a team styled as the Pakistan Emerging Players went through a successful tour of Denmark and Holland. The programme at home kicked off in September with the Tissot Cup National One-day Tournament, which used to be known as the Wills Cup. Of course, in the summer just past, Pakistan had taken part in the World Cup in England where they ended as runners-up to Australia in the final at Lord’s and then went to Toronto where, in a three-match One-day International series, they gained a clean sweep over the West Indies.

The only first-class competition of the home season was the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Championship where PIA took the title defeating Habib Bank in the final. Here’s how the various winners emerged in the other tournaments: Tissot Cup National One-day Tournament — PIA, Pepsi Junior Cup National Under-19 Grade-I Championship (limited-over section) — Lahore City Whites, Pepsi Junior Cup National Under-19 Grade-I Championship — Karachi Whites, Pepsi Junior Cup National Under-19 Grade-II Championship — Lahore City Blues, PCB Patron’s Trophy Championship (non-first-class) — Lahore City Blues and National Bank Cup One-day Tournament — Habib Bank.

After the matches in Canada, the Pakistan senior team won the Coca-Cola Trophy title in Sharjah in October and then toured Australia for three Tests (all lost) in November. Pakistan reached the finals of the Carlton & United One-day Series in Australia, only to be beaten convincingly by the hosts. Following the home series against Sri Lanka — Pakistan were beaten in all three One-day Internationals and Sri Lanka won the Test rubber 2-1 — Pakistan achieved a triumph in Sharjah in March clinching the Coca-Cola Cup with a win against South Africa in the final. More elation was on the way: late last month Pakistan won the Cable & Wireless One-day Series in the West Indies.

Other Pakistani teams that went abroad in the 1999-00 season included a Pakistan A side that toured Abu Dhabi in November to play a triangular series against India and Sri Lanka (they finished third as Sri Lanka A took the trophy) and, in January, Pakistan participated in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka that was won by India. Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in the semifinals by just 10 runs.