> *Friends Enjoy both the cricket victory ++ the victory against Taalibaan
> /Fundamentalist extremist who attacked the runners up Sri Lanka in Lahore
> just a few months ago. God only knows when we will be able to play Test
> cricket in Pakistan again!*
>
*Ekbal Kidwai*
================================================================================\
===========


> Pakistan won their first major title in 17 years when they stunned Sri
> Lanka by eight wickets in the Twenty20 final. Full Story
>
<http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/cricket/12-p\
akistan-sri-lanka-set-for-emotional-clash-in-world-t20-final--bi-02>
>

<http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/08-\
ripple-effect-ts-02>
Ripple effect
<http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/08-\
ripple-effect-ts-02>
Positive vibes all around as even the stock market experiences an upturn.
TOAST OF THE NATION

<http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/cricket/08-w\
in-best-fathers-day-gift-afridis-father-ts-04>
Win, best father’s day gift: Afridi’s father
<http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/cricket/08-w\
in-best-fathers-day-gift-afridis-father-ts-04>
‘I am the proudest of all the Pakistani fathers. I am elated that he gave
the whole nation moments of happiness.’
Why Pakistan is in the T20 final

Avijit Ghosh

Times of India
Friday June 19, 2009
About a fortnight ago when I wrote the blog, Why Pakistan must win Twenty20
World Cup, I was flooded with colourful abuses. An overwhelming majority of
respondents labelled me "unpatriotic." Many appeared convinced that India
was going to win the World Cup and that Pakistan will be knocked out in the
first round.

They had their reasons, I guess. Some were political and had little to do
with cricket. But for a variety of reasons, many genuinely believed that
Pakistan wasn't going to put up a good show. To begin with, Younis Khan and
company hadn't seen much of international cricket in recent times. That
apart, none of them had played in IPL2. Even in the practice games, the team
hardly inspired confidence.

So how come Pakistan is playing Sunday's final while MS Dhoni's million
dollar boys nurse their wounds. Let us try to analyse:

1. Unlike us, Pakistan improved with every game: Younis Khan and his men
looked rusty in the warm-up matches. But rather than being dismissive or
cocky, they worked on their shortcomings. Whenever they were pushed into a
do-or-die situation, they came up trumps. In other words, they didn't
crumble under pressure; instead they revelled in the condition. In terms of
natural talent, Pakistan is second to none. It is always a case of putting
it together. Luckily for them, they have peaked at the right time.

2. Great bowling: Just like Sri Lanka’s M3, Pakistan has three of the best
bowlers on view: Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal. Gul is the only
bowler to get reverse swing in the entire fortnight. His yorkers remind you
of Waqar Younis. With the exception of Malinga, nobody is bowling better at
the death. No one is able to smote either Afridi or Ajmal. Both spinners are
getting plenty of wickets too. At times, Afridi has been exceptional.
Everybody will remember the delivery that castled Gibbs. The two are taking
care of Pakistan's middle overs.

3. Man of the moment: In every key game, Pakistan has found a man of the
moment. Against the Kiwis, Gul took 5 for 6, the best ever in the history of
T20. And he still had an over to spare. Against South Africa, Afridi
discovered he could put bat to ball again. Result: carnage. There have been
some great cameos too. Just compare the batting of Kamran Akmal and MS
Dhoni. Look at the difference in the strike rates. It's staggering.

4. Nice blend of old and new: As India in 2007, a bunch of young guns are
firing for Pakistan. The 17-year-old paceman Mohammed Aamer looks a
potential Wasim Akram. Nobody's missing out-of-form Sohail Tanvir. Opener
Shahzaib Husan has looked the part. His carefree 35 off 28 balls against New
Zealand, before he was stupidly run-out, was just what his team needed.
Similarly, the return of Abdul Razzak has added depth to both batting and
bowling. The jigsaw pieces have fallen in place.

5. Improved fielding: Traditionally their Achilles Heel, Pakistan's fielding
was abysmal in the earlier stages. Fielders dropped catches as if the ball
was carrying the swine flu virus. But their performance in the semi-final
was unrecognisable from their earlier flops shows. I know one swallow
doesn't make a summer. But isn't it ironical that Shahid Afridi's Scott
Styris catch is the best of the summer?

6. Captain cool: He is not snapping at journalists in press conferences or
skipping national awards ceremony. Younis Khan is simply scoring runs at a
brisk speed. Even when fielders are dropping catches or making schoolboy
errors, he remains cool and encouraging. He is making mistakes too. His
decision to bowl Fawad Alam against South Africa defied reason. But he is
leading boldly from the front. Younis has infused a karo ya maro spirit in
the team. Having been denied the opportunity to turn out in IPl2, and
consequently starved of the goodies, the Pakistanis are also playing for
professional pride.

As I had written earlier, every country wanted to win the Cup. But nobody
needs the trophy as badly as Pakistan. For even in the worst of times, sport
has always acted as a balm for wounded souls. A World Cup triumph can give
the terror-ravaged nation an unsullied reason to be happy. Even if it
doesn't happen, Younis Khan and his men have already given Pakistan plenty
to be proud of.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa\
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa


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> *CHAMP NATION*
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> *Stand Up For The Champions Stand Up
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