Karachiites hail Pakistan's victory (18 June 1999)

18 June 1999

Karachiites hail Pakistan's victory

The Dawn

Karachi, June 17: The city turned festive as young cricket followers took to the streets and celebrated Pakistan's success in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.

There were reports of celebrations from every locality and the gala was participated by people of every age from all walks of life.

More than 1,000 enthusiasts, mostly youngsters, took out a procession of automobiles between Golimar and Sakhi Hasan chanting and raising slogans for the team. After every furlong, they stopped and danced on the road to the tune of national songs.

Gulshan-i-Iqbal also displayed a carnival look while more than 2,000 people gathered at the Clifton seaside and danced and sang till late in the evening.

Many of the followers, wearing colourful clothes, were seen carrying several interesting placards: "We rule the world again," said one recalling Pakistan's 1992 World Cup triumph at Melbourne.

"The tigers are roaring in the jungle," said one while another read: "The tigers are no more cornered". "Nine down, one more to go," stated another with reference to Pakistan's nine matches in the ongoing event. Pakistan, in the eight matches, have won six and lost three.

"We love you from the bottom of our hearts," read a banner which carried photographs of Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar and Moin Khan.

In North Nazimabad, cricket fans fired gun shots in the air with automatic weapons to celebrate the event.

Sweet shops, which were deserted during the course of the match, became crowded as the people bought to distribute amongst friends.

"We were concerned when nobody came to buy sweets. But an hour after the match ended, there was nothing left," said Maqbool Ahmad, an owner of a sweet shop in Papposhnagar.

As the people glued to their TV sets at home to watch the match, almost all major roads wore a deserted look with very thin traffic plying on the roads.

All the shopping centres at Saddar and Tariq Road were void of customers.

At the Hyderi shopping centre though the shops were open, shop-keepers were glued in front of their portable televisions.

A few shoppers, not interested in cricket, were denied lift by Rikshow drivers who said they were listening to the commentary on radios.

Interestingly, the fans who were bitter after Pakistan lost to Bangladesh and India, showed a big heart when they called this newspaper office to record their sentiments.

"I want to congratulate the Pakistan team for reaching the final. All my apprehensions were wrong and I admit that," said Kaleem Shah, a businessman.

Former Test stalwarts were also full of praise for the team.

Little Master Hanif Mohammad termed the team as a `bunch of extraordinary players' and wasted no time in predicting that Pakistan would win the June 20 final.

"The performance convinces me that Pakistan will win the World Cup. Everything seems to be falling at the right place at the right time," said the former captain.

Hanif, a legendary figure in Pakistan cricket, said the conditions would definitely be in favour of Pakistan now. "In mid-June, the weather would be hot and the wickets would be more flatter. The top order got morale-boosting runs in the semi-final while the bowling is best amongst all participants. It has variety, punch and kill."

But Hanif had a word of caution too. "Complacency will be Pakistan's biggest enemy. They can't afford to get complacent. It is just a matter of one day and if they play to their potential on June 20, they will live for the rest of their lives as proud cricketers."

Hasib Ahsan remarked: "The team has peaked at the right time. The bowling was upto mark but the batsmen have got runs when they were required to get. I give Pakistan a 60% chance to win the World Cup."

Intikhab Alam, manager of the 1992 World Cup team, said he had very high hopes in the side's ability to regain the title. But he was a concerned man too. "When you win, many mistakes fall in the background. Being a former coach, I always try to find mistakes and what I have gauged in that the team lacks in three things. Firstly, we have been conceding too many extras which is criminal, secondly, running between the wickets has to be improved and thirdly fielding standard has to be lifted."

Intikhab said he was more interested in Pakistan playing the final against Australia. "Not only because we have beaten Australia in the recent past, the latest being in this event."

Source :: The Dawn (www.dawn.com)