T20 win revives hopes for Pakistan

KARACHI – Pakistan revelled in its World Twenty20 triumph Monday, as former cricket greats voiced hopes that the victory could help restore the strife-torn nation’s place in international cricket.

Celebrations continued into the night Sunday with cricket fans gathering around screens in homes, public places and on street corners as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in London to hoist the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup.Thousands of people congregated at markets, parks and streets throughout the country, dancing, waving cricket bats and shouting ‘Long Live Pakistan’ – an unusual sight in a nation cowed by suicide attacks by Taliban militants.’It is a great win… It is a bit early to say but the win will definitely have an impact. People will treat Pakistan as a serious cricketing nation,’ former captain Ramiz Raja told AFP.’It will definitely lift the gloom in the country, as suddenly the team has given a reason for the people to smile and celebrate,’ he added.Sunday’s victory saw captain Younus Khan lead Pakistan to their second major title, after Imran Khan captained them to World Cup glory in Australia in 1992.’The 1992 win was great, but this one is bigger because of the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan just three months ago,’ said Raja, a member of the victorious 1992 squad.Pakistan’s already-bruised reputation as an international cricket venue was shattered on March 3 this year when insurgents launched a gun and grenade attack on the Sri Lankan team as they travelled to a match in the city of Lahore.The brazen assault left seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured and killed six policemen and two civilians.After the attacks, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stripped Pakistan of its share of World Cup 2011 matches – the second major event shifted from the country after the Champions Trophy 2009 was moved to South Africa.Even before the assault, foreign teams were refusing to tour the country over security fears. Australia postponed a tour in March last year, forcing the one-day series to be played in the United Arab Emirates in April-May this year. – Nampa-AFP