A TWO-to-one victory in a one-day series in India by Pakistan, with convincing margins (by six wickets and 85 runs) and a loss of only 10 runs in the last match, is indeed a fine accomplishment.

The last match was great. It was sheer bad luck that Pakistan could not return with a whitewash and India got a consolation win. Furthermore, Pakistan also drew T20 series one-one, losing the second match by a slim margin of 11 runs.

No one gave Pakistan team a chance, not even our own people. The pundits were talking about a 50-50 chance in the T20 matches and a possible whitewash by India in the ODIs.

To beat the reigning world champions in their own backyard was nothing short of a miracle. Being touted as a friendship series, with great camaraderie between the two sides, the media as usual made it into a war with different themes.

After a long time we saw a formidable Indian side fearing players from across the border who excelled in the field which was evident in all the five games. A country in turmoil, a nation in despair, with citizens living in fear, we had two young men, with humble backgrounds, who took the new ball for their country and demolished a world-class Indian batting lineup which was perplexed with the moving ball and succumbed to the line and length of these youngsters.

There was young Nasir Jamshed who excelled in batting and scored back-to-back tons on difficult pitches. Thank you, boys, for your effort; you made the country proud.

Congratulations to the Pakistan team, to the people of Pakistan on a deserved series victory in ODI and squaring the T20 series. This series taught us that all is never lost and if you can dream it, you can turn it into a reality. Pakistan cricket, you made us believe.

KHURRUM A. MUJEEB Ontario, Canada