Adil Najam
How do I feel today with Pakistan having lost to India in the Semi-Final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup?
I feel exactly as I did on November 4, 1987. I was at the Ghaddafi Stadium in Lahore, as a sports reporter for the newspaper The Muslim, covering the Semi-Final match between Pakistan and Australia in the 1987 World Cup. Pakistan was the clear favorites. Pakistan lost.
How did that feel? Pretty much as today feels. It felt like this:
But as a reader wrote on my earlier post, I am sad, but not angry. Nor am I ashamed or dejected. In an odd sort of way, I am fulfilled. We tried our best.
Today was not our best day; but frankly it was not our worst day either. There have been many days in recent weeks and months when I was ashamed of what was being done in my name. Today was not one of those days. Today, I took many blows, but I stand tall. Today, I wait for tomorrow. Because, tomorrow is another day.
Congratulations, Team India on a well-earned victory.
Thank you, Team Pakistan, for a month full of thrills and chills and making us come together as a country again. Your fielding was rather pathetic, but you have made us proud nonetheless!
That day of 4th November 1987 is etched on my mind. It was just unforgettable. I’m not superstitious but it really funny that the semi final we played 4th November 1987 and 30th March 2011 were on Wednesday. The WC final of 1992 on 25th March 1992 was on Wednesday. Maybe Pakistan should avoid playing semi finals on Wednesday and focus playing finals on Wednesday (:-)
Tendulkar confirmed in this match what I always suspected.He is a very ordinary person and extremely self concious too. He may meet his nemesis in the final.
I am hoping that in future India and Pakistan play many more games and they will always be welcome and received with a lot of love and warmth. The truth is that the outcomes of mistakes of few on both the sides have to borne by the rest of us.
Reading ex crap like Aamir Sohail et all criticizing Afridi for the loss, it seems that these ignorant have forgot their times. Can all these wannabe ex cricketers tell why THEY never won against India too. Remember how Parasad showed the door to Aamir Sohail in 96 worldcup’s QF. It’s shame that match fixing guru like Sohail,Moin and Akram criticize others. Atleast Afridi had guts to say SORRY to entire nation for the filth of others who once against sold out for the money. But should I get surprise when our government and others recently handed over an American terrorist for sake of few bucks and an ex-dictator handed over a lady for sake of dollars. I would rather suggest to change Pakistan’s name to “Dollaristan” or “Beghaira tistan” where beghairiti is considered the best attribute of a person.
While team has arrived back. Afridi, as expected refused to go for WI tour. Good decision. It’s better to say out of pond of rotten fishes.
Wahab Riaz was “The Man” of this match by miles. This was one of the finest few spells of fast bowling in a world cup match – and the occasion just made it so much bigger. Also it was his bowling that made it such a close encounter. I hope for the Pakistan board to realize that, and let him achieve his full potential by making him a permanent feature of this team. I would also advise Wahab not to give in to temptations, and just focus on his cricket, as he could be the next target of the cricketing mafia.