Pakistan at the end of a 3 week WC venture have emerged as the World Champions, second time in its cricketing history Pakistan have won World Cup trophy. Amazingly, both occasions if not totally similar have quite a few matchable patterns.
When we need it we get it
Between 1992 and 2009, there haven't been many times when Pakistan needed to win this badly. They lost in the finals of 1999 WC but that WC Pakistan played like a professional, fit and perfect team rising to the final with no problem whatsoever and unfortunately that hasn't been their style ever. If they would have had won then there was nothing better than that for Pakistani cricket but I guess nature has its own course to manage things, the higher you rise the probability of falling for a longer duration rises or it is just how the fans who decided to move on saw it. Anyways, 1999 has been a sad memory for Pakistani cricket and lets leave it for now.
In 1992, nation had a recent return to political setup after long painful years of dictatorship and the setup was not delivering. Imran Khan was on the edge of his career, he has made comments about leaving after WC himself, the team was a mixture of youth and goldy oldies, the team had its star fast bowler injured before tournament, the team struggled with its batting order, fielding was beyond poor and in all these gloomy surroundings Imran Khan was building a Cancer Hospital, the first of its kind for Pakistani people. Pakistan at one point in time were announced as knocked out of the tournament when they were bowled out for 74 against England, all England needed was an hour of play to wrap up the game but as it unfolded nature had other plans, rain came to Pakistan's rescue, that 1 point combined with so many other "ifs" all happening Pakistan's way landed them into higher stages and then once nature let them roll they started to rock around the semis till Imran & Co. lifted the Cup. Every time I look back at it I feel the Cancer Hospital had a major role in that victory, hadn't Pakistan won in 1992 it would have been very difficult for Imran to continue his venture and somehow nature took the most responsible course.
In 2009, Pakistan has come out of decade long dictatorship, turmoil and turbulence has been higher than ever, remains of dictatorship, return of corrupt politicians and war on terrorism has crippled every part of life in Pakistan. The levels of tension in daily life have been enormous, a huge population has been pushed out of the range to even buy their kids cricket bats, those times are long gone when most of the families would sit together and cheer Miandad, it has been a fight for survival for quite sometime now. These times are worse because Cricket has been directly victimized by terrorism and so much more we touched upon in previous articles. Bottom line is that there hasn't been a single good news for Pakistani people in the past 5-6 years. What could have been done in such times? From getting jobs to electing a sincere political leader the whole nation had lost the will, hope and desire to even continue or make an effort.
From the common man of Pakistan to the National Cricket Team every Pakistani was cornered, potentially, physically, mentally, psychologically, financially and in every other goddamn way you can think of. We needed a victory, a tale of inspiration, an example of fighting back, a vision of cornered tigers, a beacon of success to follow so desperately that on some fronts it had started to affect our integrity and existence. What better way to achieve all of it other than winning a Cricket World Cup, Cricket has survived on the land of Pakistan in the most difficult of times, we have produced the best players of world cricket without lush green fields, huge funds for grounds, equipment, training and practice. Therefore, it had to be cricket, I might not be wrong when I say that cricket literally is the only interest left as common to people of Pakistan. I can't think of any better victory than cricket world cup as more memorable for Pakistani people.
T20 WC 2009 has given a reason to smile to millions of Pakistani people, out of these millions to quite a few it has given a hope to continue struggle till the end, to some it has set an example of self-belief, motivation, inspiration and hard work.
So I guess we have done it when we really needed it and I hope we can build on such achievements rather than letting them go with a few days of dancing, singing and sweets distribution.
Finishing it in style:
Younis Khan wrapped things up in style on many notes. Responding to the critics about his T20 being fun comment he made it clear he wasn't joking or anything by quitting after leading his team to victory. T20 has faced a lot of criticism, to the orthodox cricket fans and understanders its just a show of muscle power and doesn't help the game of cricket by putting ODI and Tests in the background which involve the essence of cricket, which is, exhibiting planning, temperament, execution and skill. Although, with only 50% of sixers hit this T20 as compared to in 2007 and bowlers dominating the tournament, T20 is surrendering to the basics of cricket, still if you don't like it you don't and he made his point with grace.
I putted it on my twitter a few days back that "let the world know if they can't come to play with us, if they snatch our hosts matches we will snatch their world cup trophies and put them in our home till they realize they are doing wrong". That was the emotional way of putting things up but when Younis reuqested, on the biggest stage of cricket, to the cricketing nations to come and play at his home, he conveyed it in a humble and elegant way that the world should realize; leaving behind the ones handling your created troubles is not the right way. We can do it alone hopefully but don't push us in the corner, don't leave us out because whenever we have come out of our corners it has costed you World Cups.
In short, he lead from the front in the Ground and he did it even better wrapping things up. He was graceful, elegant, composed and mature, in some ways he handled it better than Imran Khan. Kudos to Younis.
Remembering the ones who stood by you:
Younis's wonderful gestures doesn't end there. Although, It was wonderful how every team player interviewed after the match mentioned that they realized how important the match was for the fans and people back home and how they are thankful for the nations' prayer, it made the nation feel good. However, the gem of the ending ceremony, the most beautiful, elegant and timely gesture landed when Younis dedicated the victory to Bob Woolmer and when he committed he would do that before winning it. It showed that his tears on Woolmer's death were so natural, it showed the world we care for our mentors, we care for people who have stood by us in difficult times, it shows that we don't forget and God knows if Woolmer can know about it, it must be the best moment for him. Younis has shown the purity of his heart through the beauty of his gestures.
The Intikhab Alam & Aaqib Javed factor:
Surprisingly, not many from 1992 have stayed a part of the team but the then Manager and present coach Intikhab Alam and the then fast bowler and now bowling coach Aaqib Javed are the duo to be part of both world cup winning team combinations. They have had a fairy-tale involvement with Pakistani cricket skipping the parts between 1992 and 2009. They would surely live to tell tales about their world cup involvements.
Letting it spoil you:
We have done it before and we have spoiled it before. We are pushed in the corner and then someone from us stands up makes a valiant effort leads everybody out with courage and bravery, puts the step on the first step of the ladder and the whole nation loses it in that instance of adrenaline rush, anger, joy or whatever it is. When we do that we start celebrating by making fun of Indian cricket and not thinking beyond dancing and eating sweets.
When we do that we lose the opportunity to build on top of our success and make use of it in making further progress as a nation. What has Indian cricket to do with our success? if they have made fun of us, if they have ridiculed us, if they have attacked us with taunts or sarcasms it was their show of character if we celebrate our success by doing the same we spoil the moods, we return cheap tactics with cheap tactics and we certainly have to grow beyond that.
Turning celebrations into optimistic progress is a vital step that must come with a success. We have won the world cup we have defeated international criticism and skepticism, well done, now at some point in time we have to stop celebrating and use this moment of national integration, motivation and strength to solve problems we haven't been able to solve yet. This trigger might prove as the vital weapon on those war fronts and we certainly should not let it slip away. Whether its the problem of terrorism, corruption, lack of will, electing leaders we have to channel the energies world cup has brought in right directions because if we don't do that today, we might have to wait another decade till the moment arises.
Well done Team Pakistan and now its Pakistani nation's turn to follow the example of bravery you have set.
