Views from an avid Pakistani Cricket Fan

It was an overcast day at London on June 21^st, 2009. Expectations were high and Pakistanis were saying their prayers all over the world for their team which had unexpectedly turned the tables in the later part of the tournament and had reached the final. Many people still remembered the memories etched into their minds of Pakistan's Worldcup victory in 1992 under the leadership of the great Imran Khan. Not surprisingly, people expected another Khan, Younis Khan, to lead Pakistan to that glory again. The world of cricket had crashed for avid Pakistani cricket fans ever since there was a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team at Lahore earlier that year. Elders and youngsters alike had the same enthusiasm for the final.

The match began with high hopes for Pakistanis. Straight into the fifth ball of the match's first over, the new rookie left arm pacemen Mohammad Aamir struck gold by dismissing Dilshan, the highest run scorer in the tournament for a mere duck.

Of course Pakistanis went into high spirit after the first attack. Their relentless attack crippled the highly skilled Sri Lankans and reduced them to a total of just 138 runs in 20 overs. Pakistan then set forth to chase that target. Although the batting lacked the 'smashing' part until the later part of the innings, Pakistanis' hearts thumped with each and every run taken and a wicket fallen. It finally came down crashing to a few overs. This is precisely when Shahid Afridi made the moment for the Pakistanis for years to follow. The six towering over the Lords stadium, was not only aimed to clear the boundary but to win the hearts of the Pakistanis who wanted nothing more but to have the privilege to bringing the Cup to their country. Just the moment when the ball crossed the boundary line, people sensed that something was going to happen, Of course Pakistan still needed some runs to win but they sensed it. It was, a feeling, that perhaps no word or adjective could define, but it did penetrate the hearts of the millions of people watching the match at home on large TV screens. No matter what the model of the TV they were watching the match on was, no matter where they were watching the match was, there was the same happiness engrossed in every single Pakistani soul. They smelled triumph even before it came.

Of course, millions more tuned in to see their national cricket team hold the Cup and run around the stadium overjoyed at the mere thought of winning the Worldcup.

That day, it was like every sins had been washed out. People phoned their friends and relatives and blabbed for hours about this and that players' performance. No one knew which player to praise more, whether the new Aamir who took the much prized wicket of Dilshan, or Boom Boom Afridi who hit a booming six into the crowd right in the midst of tension. The captain, Younis Khan found a good reason to retire on a good note from T20 Cricket.

I had only heard about the celebrations of the 1992 Worldcup victory of Pakistanis from my elders but that day, I witnessed the scene. The scene that must have happened in Melbourne, and in Pakistan, the people's gleaming faces. Yes indeed one commentator was right, “ The young ones watching would of course remember this and recount it to their younger ones later on”. I am proud to say that I witnessed a moment in Pakistani and cricketing history that I can always narrate with joy to other people who would never get the chance to witness that particular moment. The moment of joy, the moment of Pakistan winning the T20 Worldcup when it seemed like cricket had ended for Pakistan.

Now, another Worldcup tournament is just around the corner. For Pakistanis, it means the absolute need to win this tournament too to retain the title of being the 'T20 Champions'. Of course, there are cricket gurus and speculators who would say that the current Pakistani team lacks the players or the morale to win the 'big one' again too but I would say this, Pakistanis have proved themselves to be a really unpredictable team but when their high time comes, nothing can beat them, be it ordinary players from their own side or formidable ones from the competing side. This time, it can be their high time too, and of course if it is, then victory is certain. Rock on, Pakistan.

Written By Hammad Hussain