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!
@Rashid Rupani: Best post. I truly believe that with such a right attitude, Pakistan will scale greater heights in terms of progress and helps to achieve peace in the region.
Long time lurker here, but I just pre-emptively wanted to say that douche bag comments of other indians that may come gloating do not represent the majority view. Today’s match was as good as it gets for an Indo-Pak encounter and Pakistani team fought valiantly. The speech by Shahid Afridi was really very good and won him a lot of fans here. If Pakistan would have won today, then I would have definitely rooted for Pakistan in the finals.
Tonight I’ll sleep with Pride and Peace because someone made me realize that I’m not just Taliban, ISI, Ajmal Kasab, Baitullah Mehsud, Zardari but I’m also Afridi! A very good cricketer, a star and a great human being… We love you and we are really proud of you boys!
Pakistan Zindabad.
This Pakistan team have performed very well, well played. Congrats India, wish you well for the final. I also wish SL good luck, may the best team lift the cup on Saturday. I am glad that it is an all Asia final.
Afridi, you don’t have to be sorry, we love you. Sure you will have another go at the WC.
I think something better is waiting for us,thats y we lost today.India played well thats y they deserve the triumph.BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FACE OF AFRIDI.ALTHOUGH HE RECOVERED HIMSELF VERY WELL,BUT REALLY HE WAS TOO SAD N DISHEARTED.