Proud to be Pakistani...again (From Asian Image)

Proud to be Pakistani...again

3:41pm Monday 22nd June 2009

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Ten years ago I came to this ground and left disconsolate, humiliated and I must say kind of cheated.

Back then Pakistan had been expected to win the one-day world cricket cup against an Australian team we had beaten earlier in the tournament.

We had become used to seeing our side finding more spectacular ways to fail than better ways to win.

But the build-up to this final was a little different. As soon as you stepped into Lords you knew something special was about to happen. There were the usual nerves and a hint of excitement.

I will admit like many supporters I was not expecting to win. Sri Lanka seemed the better side and Pakistani fans had become used to seeing their side finding more spectacular ways to fail than better ways to win.

And speaking to one Pakistani fan he was almost resigned to the fact of going home a loser because ‘God had it in for Pakistani cricket.’ Another said he didn’t at all mind losing to Sri Lanka. They were after all the only team noble and brave enough to venture into Pakistan and were treated to a barbaric act of terrorism. So it would only be fitting if they went home as winners and beat us in the process.

It was only a long-line of incidents that had forced this very writer to categorically state he had given up on all things relating to Pakistani cricket.

But secretly I could not. I was in love with that cricket team and all things green and white.

The first few overs made us realise that maybe today was going to be a little different. But as all Pakistani fans know, recent years have ensured we don’t celebrate until the fat lady and all her relatives have sung...and that twice!

Looking across at the green and white masses who had found their way into the ground memories of 1999 came flooding back. And then for a split second so did the moment Rameez Raja took a catch to claim the 1992 World Cup in Melbourne.

At the half-way point there is nothing better to calm the nerves than to speak to the opposition and they seemed quite upbeat and had faith in their wonderful bowling attack which had performed so admirably in the past few weeks.

But then something strange happened. Pakistan did not lose a wicket. For once there was consistency. For once there was stability...and for once...well...it was boring.

I glanced across to some fellow supporters and noticed a fair few had decided to turn their backs. Even with eight wickets in hand your hardened Pakistani fan knows only too well that his team can implode any minute.

‘You never know’ said an elderly gentleman, ‘They might forfeit the game’. Oh yee of little faith.

Not this time. Mr Afridi and Mr Malik guided the team home. It was simple and it was...clinical.

As the celebrations got under way I must admit it was the one time I actually had a soft spot for my fellow Pakistani man. Who cares he was from Luton or High Wycombe and made an arse of himself. Today he was my best friend because today we would go home as winners.

Outside the ground things had become almost carnival like. Young, old, men and women wanted to let the world know that Pakistan had won. The fellow who bought that Pakistan bus down needs to be knighted. If the Queen won’t do it maybe we can buy him a knighthood from Lalamusa or something.

I will remember the moment of the car driven by a white family stuck in traffic. Both the children in the back seat were shouting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ out of their open window. They had no idea what it meant but they continued over and over again. Everytime they said it someone would come and give them a high five. After all that has happened to that nation being Pakistani was for once like being a Brazilian!

This tournament will be remembered for many things...but for Pakistani fans it was all about the way Kamran Akmal always showed us his teeth whether he hit a six or a was out. It was about the way Umer Gul ran raced in like a gazelle in green bottoms. It was about how Afridi didn’t sky one and get caught at mid-on.

But most of all it was about going back to the home of cricket and coming away as deserved winners.

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