22 June,2009 08:21 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Pakistani cricket fans finally got something to celebrate about after being bogged down for a long time by problems of militancy and terrorism.
Ecstatic youngsters and even women took to the streets of Karachi and other big cities waving national flags and chanting slogans "Pakistan Zindabad" after Younis Khan's men beat Sri Lanka in the final of ICC Word Twenty20 in London yesterday.
All main roads were jammed as cricket lovers danced and lit firecrackers to celebrate the win.
"I would say this victory is bigger and more significant than our 1992 World Cup win because of its timing," former captain, Rameez Raja told MiD DAY.
The former skipper who took the final catch in the '92 final at Melbourne to give Pakistan a memorable victory, said Pakistan's victory had come against the odds on and off the field.
"Our victory sends out a clear message to the cricket world that they can't do without Pakistan. Victory has come despite problems that we faced because of security issues. It is great," he said.
Smiles are back
Former captain, Javed Miandad said both the World Cup victories could not be compared but the team under Younis had done something very big. "They have brought back smiles on the faces of our people," he said.
Miandad, a senior official in the cricket board, said he was pleasantly surprised by the way the team came back after early hiccups in the tournament.
"It is great to see this victory. We needed a big win. It is a shot in the arm for our cricket," he said.
Miandad also noted that the way people were celebrating the victory shows that despite security issues and teams refusing to tour Pakistan, the people were still very passionate about their game.
On a cricketing note, Miandad said that Pakistan's success came mainly because the top four batsmen scored. "I have always said if the top order fires in Twenty20 cricket, you can beat any team."
