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There has not been much cricket in recent years in Pakistan. Most of the series were either moved out of Pakistan or cancelled altogether. Same is the plight with the upcoming world cup matches and the champions trophy. But Pakistan team has proved to the cricket pundits once and for all that Cricket does have a future in Pakistan and it's here to stay... with or without their blessings.

• Twenty20 Winner's Plea For Pakistan Cricket (news.sky.com)
• Afridi Lifts Pakistan to World Cup Triumph (nytimes.com)

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• Afridi Lifts Pakistan to World Cup Triumph (nytimes.com)

Pakistan celebrates Twenty20 triumph

Pakistan celebrates Twenty20 triumph: "Pakistan erupted in celebration Sunday after its national team beat Sri Lanka at Lord's to win the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup, a rare moment of joy amid the gloom of the country's bloody unrest.

Pakistan reached a modest, 139-run target for the loss of two wickets with eight balls to spare to win their first major trophy since 1992, when Imran Khan led them to victory in the 50-over World Cup in Australia..."

Ex cricketers laud T20 victory: "Former cricketers termed Pakistan’s victory in Twenty20 world cup as positive sign for Pakistan cricket and hoped that International Cricket Council (ICC) will review its decision of depriving Pakistan from World Cup matches..."

The News (Pakistani News Paper)

Quotes from T20 Presentation ceremony

Afirdi Quotes:
"T20 is about enjoying and having fun ... if you enjoy ... you do well".

Asked by Nasir Hussain, How is your hurt Toe? Afridi Replies, "After this victory, I don't feel anything"

Younis Khan Quotes:
"We were underdogs so we had less pressure"

"After Razzaq came and Shahzeb opened, suddenly we got it going"

Asked by Nasir Hussain about planning to get Dilshan out, Younis Replies "That's why I've lost so many hair"

... And Pakistan does it again... T20 Cricket Champions

ENGLAND: Pakistan did once again what they do best... They kept everyone in doubt from the start to lower everyone's expectations, lost a few matches they should have easily won, then notched it up many gears when it mattered the most. They grew from strength to strength but saved their best performance for last... It all summed up what smith said after their semi final defeat, "Pakistan can beat any team on their day". On that note we can easily say that every day of the last week was Pakistan's day.

Pakistan was at their utmost best in all departments of the game, be it batting bwoling or fielding. First it was the bowlers who ran havoc through Sri Lankan top order. Then all 4 batsmen who played showed their skills with the bat, without the haste and uncertainty that has normally been the feature of pakistan cricket, but utmost confidence, responsibility and positivity.

Almost all cricketing pundits had written pakistan off on the pretext of lack of International cricketing practice, bad selection, lack of team unity, you name it. Whatever wrong could be found with the team was brought into the limelight and swelled it manyfolds. But all that was proven wrong.

In the end Pakistan once again spoiled the party for all the big names, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka in the end.

Pakistan increases pace as the openers depart (65/2 10 overs)

ENGLAND : Both openers eventually departed at 63 when 74 were required at the Required rate of 7.40 per over.
Afridi and Shoaib Malik were playing with caution til last news.

T20 World Cup Final Underway

England: The T20 World Cup Final is Under way between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This would be a rematch of the very first match from their pool. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan soundly in all disciplines of the game then. Though the faces have not changed for Pakistan team, yet this is a totally different team in terms of positivity, temperament, confidence and their strong will to win.
Sri Lanka started the tournament as one of the favourites so it's only logical that they are in teh final.
Pakistan on the other hand started on a bad note losing to to Sri Lanka in their very first pool match. Many people had written then off even before the tournament started. Their rise to the Final is nothing less than a fairy tale. They've come from strength to strength throughout their matches and dissimated arguably the best team in the tournament - south Africa. Their confidence is sky high, and I would not be surprised if they snatch this T20 tournament.
Players to Watch: Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Razzaq, Aamir, Saeed Ajmal, Sangakkara, Dilshan, Jayasuriya, Muralitharan, Mubarak, Angelo Mathews, Malinga, Mendis.
News Ki Duniya (This Blog :) )