People gathered around giant screens on roads and in front of televisions in hotels and restaurants in all the main Pakistani cities hours before the match. They clapped and danced on the beat of drums at the fall of every Sri Lankan wicket. They watched Kamran Akmal’s opening salvos with bated breath, too tense to enjoy the fact that the openers were playing a safe game. When Shahid Afridi, with his eagle-eyed look and bring-it-on walk, came on, fans dared to hope that there was still a chance, that he was going to be different. And what a difference he made. He made 54 off 40 balls, only two sixes and two fours, and even dived to save his wicket. A moment came on the fourth ball of the 19th over, a perfect Lasith Malinga yorker that Afridi edged on to his ankle, and ran a quick single to complete a remarkable victory. We all cheered, hugged each other, and thronged the streets, thrilled to see our team in top form again – even if Afridi might stay back in England to get that ankle looked at.
Where were you when it happened? How did you react? What were your favourite moments of the game? The most tense? And how did you celebrate? Send in your reactions and wishes for the Pakistani team.
it was great match indeed and our guys did great job and they won.the whole match was great moment by moment.
one thing i really dont understand reading all the comments and watching players getsure aftere victory.
why do we like to involve religion or allah all the time in cricket.pllssssss guys wake up..
indeed our time did best job , they worked hard and they won..indeed a great win.
why to bring allah or islam all the time ?
imagine any english or indian players thanking Christ or Krishna for that victory. how absured it would look to the outer world ?dont we feel how stupid we look when we mentions it over and over?
what was need for Sajda ?for god sake it is
a great sporting win by a pakistani team , just leave it like that ?
Havent u still seen the effects in form of extremsisim for dragging religion where is doesnt need to be ?
can anybody please explian ?do we need to tell the whole woirld again and again that we muslim ?havent we learned the lessoons yet ?how would we react if other teams started mentioning their hindu/ christain / budhist god ?
CONGRATULATIONS TO MY RESILIENT NATION ON SUCH A HUGE VICTORY!!!
I live in Muscat, Oman, and I was watching the match alone in my home. I had an agreement with myself that if something bad happen in first over, I’ll not watch the whole game, because there was no one to talk to, no one to shout at, no one to have a heated exchange of views, but when Muhammad Aamir came and bowl that aggressive and well planned first over, and breaking the back of Sri Lankan batting, I was glued to the screen till the last ball when Afridi and Malik took the last run.
The most amazing moments were followed not by our team lifting the trophy and doing the lap of honor, but when each and every (15) Indian news channels started praising Pakistani team and their performance. Most of them were showing clips from Geo Tv of scenes from all over Pakistan, joyous moods of people, dancing, sharing sweets, and greeting each other. I pray to Almighty that this success goes a long way for success of our nation in every aspect of this life and hereafter, ameen! This is a very strong reply to all our enemies that we may look down and out at certain occasions, and when you expect the least from us, we give it all we have! Long Live Pakistan! Allah o Akbar!
I was watching it at a friend’s place in West London. We were anxoius all through but cheering every run during the chase. Some sense of ease came through when Afridi lofted Udana for a six to make it 13 from 13. And when we got the winning runs all jumped up screamed and shouted high fives all round. Then we went to Edgeware Road in Central London to celebrate with all the Pakistani crowd that had gathered there. A couple of mates that had made it to Lord’s also joined us there. We sang “Dil Dil Pakistan” on the street, danced to national songs, cheered Paskistan and my favorite was when everyone started singing the national anthem together. It was a real party atmosphere. This win was needed by the country and I’m glad we got it. Last but definitely not the least my favourite moments of the tournament were whenever Boom Boom took a wicket and just stood tall, hands raised, I loved that. In the end a cheer in urdu “Jeet gaya bhai jeet gaya … Pakistan jeet gaya”
I wish our leaders learn from this great victory. Hope they can see how hungry are the people of Pakistan for “good news”.
I dare our politicians: give to the people of Pakistan some thing even close to the achievement of team Pakistan.
I watched it here in england, on my laptop… with no other pakistanis or cricket enthusiasts around.
didn’t know who to hug when we won.
overjoyed….
Great Job and well done for lifting the spirit of every Pakistani, home or abroad, who cares for our beautiful country and nation. Congratulations.
Where can we find a selfless leader to unite our Nation, where all citizens are treated equally, I pray!
I was on the way to West Africa from Italy. I had a transit in Lisbon and that is when Sri Lanka started their innings. I asked the lady in the lounge to switch on Eurosport for cricket, although perplexed with my unusual request, she tried and got the channel. I was all alone but it didn’t matter, I was happy when they ran that winning run.
But my happiness turned to sadness very soon. Images of dead bodies and displaced people just refused to abandon my mind. I was very confused as how to feel, I was immensely happy and proud that at last we have something to cheer about but I was sad at the same time for the torrid few years we have had. I was sad also for not being either in London or Islamabad, and in a place where I could not share my happiness with anyone.
I decided to take a walk and let the feeling sink in, I felt very proud to be a Pakistan, a feeling that although we all feel every time but we have to fight and try to prove it to others. For once I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone. I think it was not just a cricket match, it was much more and meant much more to all of us.
And let us not forget Sri Lanka, this is a team which went through a lot for no fault of their own like most us. They were caught in the middle of something that they could’ve have easily avoided by not touring Pakistan, but they chose to show their support and their love by touring. For me the final was fitting reward for both the teams and if there was a tie result possible, that would be even more fitting. One team has to win a game of cricket, somehow it didn’t matter on this occasion, the only stand out winner was the game of cricket as a whole.
Younis Khan said this is a gift from us to the nation, that was a very nice thing to say. And What a gift, I have not seen such images, such scenes of jubilations in Pakistan for years. I was starting to wonder, whether the happiness will ever return to us, but this gave us hope. It takes one incident to turn around the fortunes of a country, I so dearly hope this is that turning point albeit a very unconventional one but then again, we are a very unconventional nation ?
My best wishes to this team, to my nation and to all those who lost their loved ones and lost their homes.
Thanks.
AOA every one!
i am living in uk from last 3 years and there are very few(3 or 4) events in this period that i was so happy and this was the one. no one else was supporting the pakistani team except pakistani, bengali and muslims living in UK. so this is a Crucial time to think about out nation, where we r going, who is on our side and who is our enemy and let’s become one to get a +ve direction.
so any way, to see the celebrations in uk
go to youtube and watch them … how happy we was!
our boys werent middling the ball around the 15 16 over and just taking singles. as soon as udana came to bowl around the 17 or 18th over, a sudden voice build up in my heart that is is the over because the last over was left for malinga after a long discussion with jayasuria, jayawardena, murli and sangakara. i knew runs were to be scored in only this over and then there was it. Afridi picked up the slower ball and plunged it over midwicket for a huge six. bowler lost his rythem in the next ball and it went for a four and that was it. We handled the pressure, took singles on offer and waited for the bad ball and that was it. I was in my house watching the match when he hit the ball for six and I punched my table. THAT WAS THE MOMENT!!!!
Is it Pakistan! i am still not getting it! i am over the moon! Man o Man what a game afridi had! he was Majestic, he shows the hunger and he was the Man to count! he lived up to the occasions, the moment i love was when afridi hit a six to udana to seal the victor, that was really a BOOM BOOM afridi. Good Luck. today i am real proud Pakistani and we have shown the world, okay if you dont want to come in our country we will mind and we will come to your country and beat you there! Rock on Pakistan.
Our lads played with real Pakistani spirit and have done us all so so so proud.
We are going through a rough patch as a country and nation but I am sure that this victory will be the turning point. It will help us re-discover the self-belief and we will realize again that “WE ARE ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE”.
I watched the match with friends here in London and boy we all were so happy, the team was really professional in their approach and Shahid Khan Afridi played like a TIGER … WELL DONE BOY!!!
After the match we all went to Southall where there were jubliant scenes and one of the most livliest street parties I have seen in a long long time!!!!
I was over-whelmed with emotion when everyone was shouting “PAKISTAN ZINDABAD”
What a wonderful day for us all !!!
I am currently living in United States and these days I am visiting my Parents here in Karachi. I watched the game with My parents and my Mamoon and my bro who is also visiting from NYC. We all watched the game togather and after winning we went to drive and enjoyed the street celeberation. What can be better than that.
I met my family after 2 years, Got tgather to watch cricket game. best of all a FINAL where Pakistan was playing, its world Cup and we become champions, I can never ever forget this victory. GOD BLESS PAKSITAN and save it from INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL enemies.
I am an Indian living and working in KSA.
The greatest plus to this win has come in the inclusion of Abdul Razzaq. even if Afridi would have gone, there were many batsmen who could have completed the task.
CONGRATS PAK
ok so im from karachi and it was def the best day of my life! i dont think i ever prayed like i prayed for victory that sunday! loved afridi’s catch in semis and his air kiss to kallis. haha. n def the anthem and bow parts made me go all emotional. after the win, us cousins all went out to street with flags and everybody was out singin patriotic songs, dancin and what not! thanks Allah for it all. n congrats to all the pakistani’s out there..we rule!
Cricket is just an entertainment part of life It is not life itself.
A country bombed each day, a country suffering from shortage of electricity, a country where water shortage is mounting each day, a country where other nation’s team refused to come and play and a country which is under serious economic downturn needed this WIN desperately. You can not imagine how big this victory is for Pakistan. Long live Pakistan, Long live Pakistan. Amin
Hi! Our whole family was ready to See the Final Show. My mom and dad were very anxious about the match. They prayed for Pakistan’s Win. My dad, a journalist by profession frequently found murmured the words: “Allah, Help us, Help the Nation, Help Pakistan team to achieve the something to celebrate. This is much needed victory for the nation. It can bind us together again.”
Match Started. Pakistan clinched early wickets. The flag of Pakistan flew high. My heart confirmed me Insha-Allah, Pakistan would dominate the rivals. Pakistan won! They provide the moments to rejoice. Thanks to Pakistan Cricket Team.
Was at home and cheer every Srilankan wicket fall & every Pakistan run. Every body forgets the Manager Intikhab Alam who brought us the second world cup. A dedicated quote for team
You know who is the best couple in this world is. “SMILE & TEARS” rarely they are seen together, but when they are it’s the best moment of the life. Indeed it was the best moments of any patriotic Pakistanis life.
Congratulations Pakistan…hope you people will win the ongoing war on terror in same style. Best of Luck
if i must pick one moment then ofcourse if can be nothing else than the lap of honour for the champions!
I was in turkey and watched the match with pakistani and turkish friends (which pleaseantly were die hard pakistani supporters)… and man!!! they were shouting, they were praying for us … They were the ones finding live streaming servers for us while we went into panic attacks as soon as the streaming server overloaded … BUT the best part was when turks for no reason at all started to shout jeeway jeeway pakistan .. (coz thats the only thing they know of pakistan)
Ofcourse honking horns through the streets and late night celebrations with me …
Hats off to my paki team for winning us THE WORLD CUP and to all the turks with me that night!
I saw the last ball at home and suddenly heard firing and fireworks outside and came out then and celebrated at Jinnah Supper Market. We danced with Traffic Police wardens and a lot of girls n boys gathered there within no time and we enjoyed till 3:30 AM.
It was the best gift a pakistani could have given to the nation which has suffered so much and still is.
17 years is alot of time but there could have been no time better for the Pakistani Team to bring not just the World cup home but bring a smile to every Pakistani all over the world.
Way to go Pakistan
The favourite moment was ofcourse the Dilshan dismissal ; Mohd. Amir bowled beautifully to get the danger man back in the dug out. And lastly the winning run…… it was tooo special .
Pakistan Zindabad.
T
I was in Houston, couldn’t sleep for two nights, anxiety was killing me I came from a Mehndi program at 3 in morning went to bed at 5, everyone start calling around 8ish to watch the game. I wanted to watch the game so badly, but I was afraid that I may jinx the game, emotion were too high:) finally got a text msg that Sri Lanka 34/4 in 6 overs and then I couldn’t resist :)I turned on the TV, because I didn’t want to miss the moment if Pakistan. We had lot of guest at home from different states and after the winning shot you just can’t imagine the situation inside the house:) It was awesome man, just awesome.
It seemed like Afridi wanted this cup and he got it he just made it so simple. I never seen him so determined and hungry for a win. It was a different Afridi.
We needed this, we needed this desperately…
Reminded me Quaid-e-Azam message to the nation on the occasion of the First Anniversary of Pakistan August 14, 1948
“Nature has given you everything: you have got unlimited resources. The foundations of your State have been laid, and it is now for you to build, and build as quickly and as well as you can. So go ahead and I wish you Godspeed! ”
Can this be the foundation to rebuild Pakistan?
I’m waiting for a brief article/analysis from you, with full coverage of how it happened, how this team changed, its impact on the nation, how it was celebrated in Pakistan I want to see it from your eyes, and how they can ignore Pakistan in Champions League unless they are afraid of us
Enjoy Man, its been a long time I just don’t want to wait another 17 yrs
Im happier for the people of Pakistan more than anything else!
I read a Pakistani on another blog saying: “Today, i got my country back”. Finally, we have something to be proud about! I hope the sense of pride stays.
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(p.s.)
It’s great to hear about your celebrations in Toronto, or some town in Ohio where you and your ‘pakistani community’ celebrated for a day. In my opinion, If you are a patriot, you should be home, in Pakistan. Ignore this if ur coming back in a few years. But if you’ve moved ‘until things get better’, you should know that your abandonment is every bit responsible for the shambles Pakistan is in right now.
“long live Pakistan”? its not going to live too long if the brain drain isn’t reversed soon.
What a gripping match! And what a victory indeed! Here is a team that dazzled the WORLD by its clinical precision and style!
Watched the match with 12 other students here in Ottawa, Canada – and i can confidently say that no other match has ever thrilled like this one.
Bravo Team Pakistan! Who needs the IPL?!