SRINAGAR: Residents in ‘Indian administered’ Kashmir Sunday fired crackers in the region's main city after Pakistan beat Sri Lanka to win the World Twenty20 championship, witnesses said.

Srinagar erupted in celebration after Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets and as scores of Kashmiri youth poured on to the streets and lit firecrackers.

The youths also chanted pro-Pakistan and pro-freedom slogans as Indian paramilitary troops stayed in their bunkers, witnesses said.

Thousands of Kashmiris, including women and children, were glued to their televisions sets to watch the tense final.

‘It is a great victory and one day I hope we will merge with Pakistan,’ said a die-hard Pakistani cricket fan, Mohammad Yaseen.

Residents in Muslim-majority Kashmir valley traditionally support Pakistan in sports events.