THE incredibly outstanding Pakistan win in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval on Sunday was reminiscent of Pakistan’s two magnificent wins at the venue - the one in 1954 when England was bamboozled by Fazal Mahmood to bring his country the first win on the English soil, and the one in the last Test played at The Oval by Pakistan last year when Younis Khan hammered a match-winning double century to level the series.

These were memorable moments for Pakistan indeed, considering how emphatically this venue turned out to be a happy hunting ground for us once again. More so enjoyable for the fact that this time it was India — the arch rival — and not England at the receiving end.

The joy and the euphoria of that remarkable decimation of Indian batting and bowling no doubt sent a wave of happiness from one end of the country to another to fill the hearts of men, women and children with joy as they sang and danced in jubilation and in celebration of what was considered to be something beyond a lowly-ranked team such as Pakistan.

The celebrations were similar to those witnessed in 1992 when the Imran Khan-led side astounded their critics into submission by beating England in the final at the MCG in front of a record 87,000 people.

That was a historic moment, as was 2009 when Pakistan and Younis Khan brought home the ICC Twenty20 Cup from England.

We all know that in a contest of any proportion it is a victory that matters and especially so when an underdog emerges out of nowhere to dent a defending champion. There was nothing like any higgledy-piggledy in the way Sarfraz and his pumped up team trounced the fancied Indians who for their cricket cockiness in the last few years had looked at Pakistan and its cricket with contempt.

Not to say that only the cricketers who represented India were guilty of that but a majority of cricket-crazy population had been brainwashed into believing that Pakistan, because of its security problems, ought to remain the outcasts of the game. The Big Three factor had made them even more scaly-headed in reference to Pakistan. The outrage was such and remains to this day that every request from Pakistan authorities to have bilateral series promised was contemptuously dismissed by the cricket authorities in India, as if we were the untouchables of the game.

But God has His own ways to bring even the greatest to the earth and that is exactly what has happened with Pakistan sneaking from behind to dent the pride and passion of not only Indian cricket but also their unsporting bunch of supporters including their recent government who continued to refuse any cricketing relation with their neighbours.

Pakistan’s triumphant march to victory at The Oval where Pakistan rubbed India’s pride and their noses into the dust will surely now wake them up to realise that it is sports that brings you nearer and not hatred and war that wreaks only havoc and suffering.

The fair-minded on either side of the border understand that very well and despite all the poison injected amongst the extremists and hardcore supporters, there were also rational and reasonable souls amongst the players and supporters of this game who always wished for a fair encounter.

What destroyed India’s myth of not losing against Pakistan in such events was the way Pakistan clinically and professionally entered the fray to not falter at any stage and not allow any respite to their opponents.

From the word go Pakistan, with a little bit of luck, held the rein with a firm grip to not allow a breather to Indian bowlers or to their batsmen when the run chase began. The Indian team as well as the experts knew fully well by then how difficult it would be to remain in the match and maintain the run rate.

Pakistan led the way by a man possessed like Fakhar Zaman and with experienced Azhar Ali a guiding influence at the crease stroking his shots with clinical perfection as did Babar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez later on to lift Pakistan to a formidable 338.

The bowlers — from Mohammad Amir to Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan and Shadab Khan — were aggressive and penetrating backed by smart fielders plucking the catches.

Contrary to that Dhawan, Rohit, Kohli and Yuvraj faced the Pakistan bowlers like novices as pressure built up to bring the indefinable Pakistan to define their status and their pride in the game as they hoisted the coveted Trophy.

Let us, therefore, rise and salute Sarfraz and his bunch of stars who have done us all very proud.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2017