With many of their happy faces painted in the colour of the national flag, the fans also raised slogans such as Pakistan Zindabad. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The quiet mid-week Pakistan Day holiday erupted into spontaneous and joyful celebration as the national team swept aside the West Indies in the World Cup’s first quarterfinal to secure its place in the semifinals.

Cricket fans in most cities came out on the streets to express their excitement and happiness. The expression took more or less the same shape in most cities and towns — music filled the air as primarily male gatherings danced the “bhangra”. In case recorded music did not provide the background to the celebrations, it was because the people were dancing to the beat of the dhol.

With many of their happy faces painted in the colour of the national flag, the fans also raised slogans such as “Pakistan Zindabad”, “Pakistan team Zindabad”, “World Cup Saada Hai, Jeet Kay Jeetain Gae”, “Afridi Sada Sher Aae”. The cricket team captain was a favourite with people cheering the team on.

In Lahore, the rival was not far from the minds of the revellers. With their eyes fixed on the future they were already narrowing down choices for the opposing team for the semifinals. And this close to the border, how could the choice be anything but India?

”Just imagine, if Pakistan won the coveted cup on Indian soil against the Indian team,” said one fan.

Mohammad Shahid, clad in clothes similar to the Pakistan team’s uniform, said that he was happy that Pakistan had proved to the world that it was a cricketing nation.

Asifa Hameed, another fan, said that the way Pakistan had played against West Indies was memorable.

The scene in Karachi and Islamabad was not much different. In all three cities, firing in the air was also carried out to announce the win.

In the other major urban centres such as Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan of the Punjab and Hyderabad, Thatta, Nawabshah, Shikarpur, Mithi, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas in Sindh the celebrations were no less enthusiastic.

Hundreds of jubilant fans took out rallies in Sialkot and Gujranwala as old men and young children performed “bhangra” and distributed sweets.

In Faisalabad, youngsters rode around on the main roads; their vehicles and motorcycles adorned with the national flag they announced their arrival with the help of special horns.

Overjoyed youths resorted to fireworks in Phulelli area in Hyderabad, which is known for its cricket aficionados. In fact, by the time Kamran Akmal hit the boundary, which secured Pakistan the victory, reports of celebratory firing had alreadystarted pouring in from almost every district of Sindh. The bhangra performances and excited fans riding up and down the main roads were a staple sight in these cities by the end of the day.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the adjoining tribal areas, however, firing was the preferred means for expressing the joy. This is not to say that as in other provinces people did not take to the roads in Peshawar, Abbottabad, Lower Dir, Mansehra, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Haripur.

Excited fans were reported to have taken out motorcycle processions in different districts of KP.

In contrast to the excitement and noise after the victory, the first half of the day passed quietly as people remained glued to the television screens. In the bigger cities such as Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi, big screens that had been installed in public spaces such as parks and green squares attracted large crowds.

Shops that allowed people to follow the match on their smaller television screens also ended up with crowds of people. In Hyderabad, a marriage hall was turned into a theatre as it showed the match on a big screen.

The main thoroughfares wore a deserted look especially as it was also a national holidays.

In many places, one could follow the progress of the match through the sounds — there would be pin-drop silence as a ball would be bowled and thunderous applause and cheering if the Pakistani side either grabbed a wicket or secured a run.

Celebratory firing in different parts of Karachi left at least three people, including a woman, injured.

A woman and young man were brought with bullet wounds to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital from Liaquatabad.

“Similarly a man from Malir area sustained a bullet wound in the shoulder during celebratory firing and admitted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre,” said an official.