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.
I was watching the game at home with my cousin, brother, and father. My favorite moment was when Afridi hit that last six which left 13 runs off of 13 balls. THat was a major momentum shifter!
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boom Boom Pakistan! Boom Boom Afridi! We Rule the World Again…Mubarik Pakistan!
As Pakistanis we all are fan of pakistani Bowling attack and the first four overs of the final really reminds the great Ws (Waseem n Waqar)…Also when Afridi hit the six in the second last over it was the moment of the game for me…once again Pakistan Zindabaad…
We were at Niagara Falls, Canada to celebrate my wife’s birthday and had our laptop to watch the match through Wi-Fi. It was an amazing feeling when we got the winning run. Our 5 year old son Ali was also saying Pakistan Zindabad in his cute Canadian style. We have never felt so pumped up at one of the calmest and most soothing places on earth.
i am an indian and watched the finals. I believe cricket has won and pakistan team did really play good brand of cricket. there was teamwork and intensity which normally is not seen in their game. well done!. keep the pakistan flag flying with years to come. India v pak would be a good game now. may all the problems in pakistan resolve and we can watch and enjoy their cricket
I am…I was speech less, I did not know to scream out of my lungs or to cry, as I thought I would not see this moment in my life time. I only wish I was in Karachi or around with some friends who I could go crazy with. Favorite moments, hands down, Afridi’s stand after the winning run, I will never forget it.
I saw it at my home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 5 PM local time when match started and it was just fun with the first wicket.
I tell you I had stopped watching cricket since 96 world Cup and hen I don’t know how I gathered my forces and saw the magic moments. I was really weeping loud last 3 overs and couldn’t even sit on the couch for those last moments.
Bravo Team Pakistan you did it in the moments when nation needed some smiles on faces … May Allah bless you with alot of successes ….
It was supposed to be Art vs Science however it turned out to be Art Vs Art. Sri Lankans are great artists but in the final the hugrier team won.
please pray to God our politician, will learn something from this Match and will show same leadership.
God Bless Pakistan
I was watching the game on my laptop. My two daughters, Aiesha and Afshan and my son Zeeshan were asking me about cricket. They said if Pakistan win today, that’s your father’s day gift. No doubt thats the wonderful gift I have. I would say precious gift for the whole nation. My wife was excieted too. I was worried when Shahid was coming to bat; if he got out on the first ball then it would be difficult to win the game and if he stay on the wicket then nobody can stop him. Thank you so much “TEAM” you guys bring happiness in our life. I’m sure our troops who are fighting in the northern areas were also listening the match on the radio. Inshaallah we will win the battle against terrorism very soon.
Pakistan Zindabad.
I was at MCG when Imran Khan lifted the world cup in 1992. It was the greatest sporting moment of my life until June 22, 2009. I have lived outside Pakistan for 40 years and on that day, I did not have access to television; I just read it ball by ball on a sports site. I can not describe the moment of my extreme elation. I hurt for whats happening in Pakistan but for two days now I have had intermittent tears of happiness. The comments on the cricket site, also bring tears to my eyes. May God bless our country and bring it out of its misery
I live in London and was really thrilled and excited about Pakistan winning the game. We need events like these which can reflect positive image of the country . It also help to elevate the mood of nation from the depressing events clouding the nation as such.I am a proud Pakistani and will always lov Pakistan no matter what world say about Pakistan , we as a nation can make it happen .
You, I, We r “World Champions”, Pakistan & Pakistanis v r “World Champions”, Mubarak ho hm sub “World Champions” hain. Maaza a gaya. :-))
This victory is not any ordinary victory, this victory brings smile to the nation in distress, this victory showed that how talented Pakistanis are, badly needed win and we got it, it also a retort to those who wants to sideline Pakistan in cricket.”Long Live PAKISTAN”.
To me, the best moment is when I saw the wave of bliss in our country which blossomed the sense of happiness which was lost somewhere somehow. I could never forget the Father’s day of Year 2009 which has rejuvenated the incredible inhabitants of our country due to the Pakistan Cricket Team. This was the true need of the hour and we got that. Thanks to ALLAH.
The body language of our team in the semi & final from the start of play showed they were there to win,success achieved with good planning,great coaching,good physical training, psychological mindset and spirited teamwork,well done boys and mentors involved. Best moments 18th over (a six and a four by the son of Pakistan, SHAHID AFRIDI).Congratulations to a brave nation.
I live in Fremont, California and watched the final with my son. I was as excited as I was in 92 when I was in Engineering University and Pakistan won the world cup.
It was amazing to see how calculated Pakistan was.. they emerged as a great team and outclassed Sri Lanka. My favorite moment was Afridi’s 10 runs on two balls. That relieved a lot of pressure and secured Pakistan win.
Congratulations to the whole nation..It is so good to see photos of young Pakistanis dancing in the streets of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other big cities. This is the real picture of Pakistan..May Allah give us more moments like this to celebrate..Aameen.
From an Indian in the US……I’m SO happy for the Pakistani team!! Great job and goes a long way in bringing happiness to the nation. My sincere congratulations!!
After watching the game on the my laptop, while driving in London, I went to Southhall,
99.9% Asian community, Pakistani celebrated by dancing in the street. It took me 2 hours to drive less than a mile, due the celebration.
Congrats Pakistan… off late only bad and sad news was coming out of pakistan.. this is a very good change. You played well and u deserved to win. Wish you all the best in all fronts and hope to see a strong and happy Pakistan soon.. An Indian
It was a Great game.We all from here[Santa Monica Ca] join with our Pakistani people in celebrating the Victory.
It is just a game.
You will just as much depressed as you are elated when they loose.
Focus on bigger problems. Pakistan is in shambles. Dont let this false prestige guide you in the wrong direction
Cricket is probably the only thing after religion that Pakistani like to worship(please don’t take this literally).It was just very very emotional to see the whole Pakistani nation rejoice after such a long (overdue) time. Long live strong and happy Our Pakistan. Darn, my eyes are wet just thinking about the gift of Allah we finally received Alhumdulillah!
Bravo Pakistan.
I must admit of not being a big cricket fan
however, this win has really inspired me, and indeed toched my heart. I salute to the Pakistani cricket team for giving us such a
glorious victory and a genuine reason to celebrate this occasion.
I was a little late and started watching T-20 match at 20:30 hrs (LT). By the time I open the TV, I witnessed that 3 of the Sri Lankan wickets were already fallen down.
One after another, Sri Lankan players started leaving the crease. They were either bold or caught. Then moments came when it looks like that Sri Lankan batsman got stable at both ends of the crease, adding the runs in the total score of the team.
Sri Lankan cricket players played well and made 138 runs. One of the Sri Lankan players Lasith Malinga had a peculiar way of delivery balls. My father who played cricket in early 70’s told me that during his time, such bowling action was not allowed. It looks like as if Malinga is not delivering the ball, but throwing a stone towards Pakistani batsman.
After every delivery of ball, the runs were adding in the total score and the remaining balls to deliver were reducing one by one.
Finally, Pakistan’s cricket team players came in the ground to face Sri Lankan blowers.
Two of our players left the crease after a short while and then came the Shahid Afridi. All of my family members were sure that Pakistan will win the final match, after Pakistan won the semi final.
It was an exciting match. I was expecting that Shahid Afridi will throw the ball out of the ground for a great six, but this did not happened. Though Shahid Afridi took the last one wining run defeating Sri Lankan’s team in T-20 World Cup, but at same time my family members were also remembering the last sixer of Javed Maindad, in which Indian Cricket team were defeated in Sharjah.
Good luck Pakistani Cricket Players. Keep it up.
We all watched the game at my home in Houston, TX and my 8 year old son and 12 years old daughter and my wife and couple of friends watched the whole match. We hooked the laptop to the TV and the mother cooked special dishes and it was the best Father’s Day I had. The tears finally came when Afridi and Malik completed the target. GREAT JOB BY THE TEAM AND AFTER 17 YEARS WE WON THE CUP!!
Thanks God for granting our team such a spirit and encouragement to win much needed victory match at a time when whole nation is going through very depressing moments. This is a gift of God for whole nation to uplift its spirit.
Pakistani Team certainly has showed sense of unity and pride. What a talented team. May God bless you with much more victories in coming days.