Remembering one of Pakistan cricket’s finest hours

On a pleasant June evening at Lord’s 16 years ago, I witnessed one of Pakistan’s greatest sporting triumphs.

And I almost wept with joy as Younis Khan lifted the World Twenty20 trophy with a sea of green swaying to the tune of ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ at the home of cricket.

It was an amazing spectacle. Thousands of Pakistani fans, young and old, men and women, boys and girls, dancing, singing, crying, hugging the people they knew and even those whom they didn’t.

Everybody was just ecstatic.

Such moments have been too few and far between for a people who have been subjected to routine dozes of tragedy in recent years.

For a change, however, being a Pakistani was no more a source of pain.

It was almost 17 years ago in 1992 that Pakistanis erupted into similar celebration when the Green Shirts won the World Cup in Melbourne. This time, however, the title-winning triumph was much more significant because of all the turmoil back home.

Pakistan had triggered the celebratory mood among their fans much before the start of the grand finale, by knocking out title favorites South Africa in the semifinals in Nottingham.

Shahid Afridi in action during the semi final against South Africa in 2009 ICC World Twenty20AFP

It was party time around Trent Bridge that Thursday night as the quiet town of Nottingham sprang to life with thousands of Pakistani fans erupting with pure joy.

Memorable climax

The mood carried on over the weekend and the stage was set for a memorable climax at Lord’s.

Those who were lucky to have tickets for the final were inside Lord’s hours before the start of the big match. Thousands of others were desperately searching for tickets with some even paying up to 500 pounds for a ticket worth 90 pounds. But it was certainly worth it.

The grand finale saw non-stop celebration from start to finish. As a British journalist told me, “Lord’s has never witnessed such a spectacle”.

It was true. In its long and illustrious history, the ‘home of cricket’ has witnessed cricketing history being made but never had such emotions flowed with such intensity within its confines. It might never again.

Fans celebrate during the final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2009 ICC World Twenty20AFP

When Shahid Afridi – Pakistan’s World Cup hero – fittingly took the winning run, the crowd went wild. Even as the stewards politely started to tell the spectators that it was time to go home, nobody was willing to leave the ground. It was an occasion that couldn’t have been missed.

I decided to join in the fun, too. Leaving the ‘Bubble’, that space-age press box at Lord's, I treaded my way into the ground and placed myself right in front of the presentation area.

It was certainly one of the high points of my career as a sports journalist. I missed the moment when Imran Khan lifted the 1992 World Cup trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

I was one of the unfortunate ones who covered Pakistan’s disastrous campaign in the 2007 World Cup and once the Pakistanis were out of the tournament had to stay behind in Jamaica to cover Bob Woolmer’s ‘murder investigations’.

But all of that was behind me. A few yards away from me were Younis and his men, holding and admiring a well-deserved trophy for which not many gave them a chance. Around them was a sea of roaring green, erupting with pure joy. It was a moment made in heaven!

‘My name is also Khan’

The scene soon shifted to the media center where the victorious captain faced a hall packed with journalists.

“My name is also Khan,” Younis Khan said with a big smile. “And I’m proud to be the second Khan after Imran to win a world title for Pakistan,” he remarked.

Younis had never hidden his most cherished dream: To emulate his idol Imran. And for him the easiest way to do that was to captain Pakistan to the World Cup.

“When I was younger and was studying in school, cricket was my only passion,” he said. “I grew up watching the likes of Imran Khan and wanted to be like him. He inspired me to work harder as a cricketer.”

Younis and his Pakistan team had a rough ride following their arrival in England for the T20 World Cup.

During the best part of the 12-nation spectacle, Younis was criticized for the bizarre way he carried himself in press conferences while his boys were rejected as no-hopers because of the way their performed especially as fielders at the start of the tournament.

Younis Khan and Kumar Sangakkara stand during the national anthems in the final of 2009 ICC World Twenty20AFP

After Pakistan lost back-to-back practice games against South Africa and India by big margins, critics started to find faults with the Pakistan team in every possible area. And when they were thrashed by hosts England in their tournament opener at Lord’s and faced underdogs Netherlands in a must-win match, it felt like déjà vu as two years Pakistan had gone through similar situations before getting bundled out of the World Cup in the Caribbean.

When asked whether he was prepared for yet another disaster ahead of the game against the Dutch, Younis ignited another controversy by rejecting Twenty20 as ‘fun’ cricket.

"It's not a disaster for Pakistan if we fail to qualify for the Super-Eight round because this Twenty20 cricket is all about fun, though it’s an international but it's all a fun game," he had told reporters.

Younis stayed firm on that assessment till the end of the World Twenty20 but made it clear in the end that he and his players took the tournament very seriously. “It’s fun cricket for the spectators but out there in the field all of us take it very seriously,” he said.

In spite of his team’s poor showing earlier in the tournament and the scathing criticism it ignited, Younis remained quietly confident throughout the three-week tour of England.

"I felt if we played consistently and played seriously we can win it. I was cool and calm and knew if we played well we can win. I had worked a lot during the series against Australia which affected my performance but I think the way we worked hard it paid off here in the World Cup. Like all my other countrymen I am also proud to win this title.”