Pakistan embrace 1992 World Cup history

Pakistan are attempting to conjure the spirit of 1992 ahead of their unlikely Twenty20 World Cup final appearance at the MCG.

More than 30 years after Imran Khan led Pakistan to a famous victory in the ODI World Cup over England, Babar Azam's current group will hope to lift a trophy at the same ground against the same country.

Pakistan are embracing that history, with chairman Ramiz Raja on Friday retelling stories of the final he opened the batting in.

The similarities between Pakistan's run to Sunday's final against England and the 1992 decider are uncanny.

Just like 30 years ago, Pakistan lost their opening game at the MCG, went down to India in the group stage, won their last three games just to qualify for the final four, before rolling New Zealand in a semi-final.

"(Raja) came out to talk to the boys, just reliving some of those stories around the '92 World Cup and I think that's great because that's why you play the game," Pakistan batting coach Matthew Hayden told reporters at the MCG on Thursday.

"These boys, their career will inevitably be over in the blink of an eye and they'll be looking back on this tournament. 

"Regardless of the result they'll be saying that we were in a semi-final, in a final and hopefully they can say were in a winning final.

"They will tell these stories around campfires in their villages, in media conferences like this and it will be an important chapter of Pakistan cricket, as was the '92 campaign."

Hayden, the legendary Australian opener, has had a major influence on the Pakistan squad in this year's tournament, and the last edition in the UAE.

The 51-year-old has been impressed by Pakistan's ability to fight through the adversity of painful defeats to India and Zimbabwe and find form the longer the World Cup has gone.

"I really like the struggle, I think it gives you an opportunity to be able to grow and reflect as a team," Hayden said.

Hayden paid tribute to Khan, Pakistan's legendary captain and the country's former prime minister, who survived an assassination attempt during a protest last week.

"Imran Khan is doing great things, celebrating democracy as an important part of life and he's doing that like the champion he was in the '92 World Cup," Hayden said.

Hayden is hopeful Victoria's rainy weather will behave to allow for an uninterrupted final.

Up to 25mm of rain is forecast for Melbourne on Sunday when a crowd of up to 90,000 will head to the MCG.

To constitute a match a minimum of 10 overs is required per team, unlike the group stage when only five overs per side was needed to complete a game.

If the final is washed out the ICC has left Monday as a reserve day with play beginning at 3pm.