KARACHI Pakistanis rejoiced Friday as their cricket team beat South Africa and booked a place in the World Twenty20 final, bringing rare joy in a nation used to sombre news of bomb blasts and Taliban violence.
'We are delighted,' Zaboor Khan, an electrician, told a private television channel from outside the home of captain Younus Khan in Mardan.
'Just a week ago we lost so many people in a bomb blast in Peshawar and we were not watching matches. But this win has given us a new joy - we needed this in a state of despair.'
A wave of Taliban-linked violence has killed about 1,995 people in Pakistan during two years of insurgency, and the unrest has also battered Pakistan's reputation as an international cricket venue.
Foreign teams were already nervous about touring the South Asian nation, and then in March this year gunmen launched a fierce attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team as they travelled to a match in the eastern city Lahore.
The attacks forced the International Cricket Council to strip Pakistan of their share of World Cup 2011 matches, but Pakistanis are hoping that their World Twenty20 run of luck will bring redemption.
'No doubt the team has given us endless joy by progressing to the final. We have had very little reason to rejoice recently, but this is surely an occasion to be happy,' former captain Rashid Latif told AFP on Friday.
'I think the Pakistan team's progress is divine help to answer to all those who have isolated our country,' he added.
Younus himself said last week 'We have no international cricket so if we reach the semi-final or win the tournament, the nation will stand up for us. I need a cup for people of Pakistan.'
'Pakistan's win over South Africa has changed despair into joy,' said accountant Kashif Ahmed, who stayed up all night in his office in Karachi to watch the match.
'Cricket has always been a big binding force in our country and the team's success in the World Cup has helped lift the spirits of the people,' former test captain Moin Khan told Reuters.
'The last few months have been very hard for the people and many of us carry psychological scars of the innocent lives lost in these terrorist attacks. But for now we have something to celebrate and look forward to.'
But Pakistan's success in England has helped lift the gloom.
'It is a temporary relief but at least for now the people are smiling,' said sports psychologist Maqbool Bari.
Bari had counselling sessions with the players before the World Cup and said they were eager to do their best for Pakistan.
'I think this is one reason they are so charged up now and giving good performances,' he added.
Some of the players at the World Cup hail from Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, which has been a conflict zone between militants and security forces.
The players have promised to donate part of their earnings for displaced people in the area.
'The players also realise how important winning this World Cup is for our people and I don't see any reason why we can't win the final now,' former test captain Rashid Latif said.
'They should have these Twenty20 matches every time, it brings good business for us and keeps our minds occupied,' said tea stall owner 'Abdullah' in one of Karachi's busiest business districts.
His small wooden shack is doing a roaring trade as daily wage workers, drivers and guards throng to his stall to watch matches on a small television set or just lounge around to talk cricket.
'Let's enjoy Pakistan's march into the final,' was the announcement in a compound at Rawalpindi as around 100 college students gathered in front of a screen before the semifinal.
A generator was put on a standby to counter frequent power cuts.
The young supporters clapped and cheered every boundary hit by Shahid Afridi, who blazed 51 off mere 34 deliveries, while some raised their plastic chairs over their heads in delight.
'It feels as if we are in Nottingham,' said Ali Nooruddin, a 12th grade student who had come to watch the match with half a dozen friends.
They held their heads in despair when Afridi departed in the 13th over.
'He has done his job,' Juzar Ishaq shouted to those around him, trying to bolster spirits as Afridi walked back to the dugout.
While Afridi later cleaned up the stumps of dangerous Herschelle Gibbs, it was the departure of A.B. de Villiers that relieved the tension.
'That's it, it's set and match,' cried Yousuf Mustafa, who had recently did his A-Level, the moment Afridi bowled De Villiers.
Many in Pakistan considered the match to be the final before the final, believing South Africa to be a more difficult opponent than the other semi-finalists West Indies and Sri Lanka.
'Bring on anyone, we will beat them,' said Hamza Sultan as the youngsters left the compound after the game.
The ever-growing security concerns of foreign teams had saw Pakistan stripped off as a Champions Trophy host last year. It remains one of the four World Cup 2011 co-hosts along with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, but must organize its share of matches outside Pakistan.
'We are hurt with this ongoing security problem, but we will not miss the action wherever our team plays,' said Hatim Zulfiqar, student of business administration.
The fans are anxiously awaiting Sunday's final and have already started making preparations for another long night in front of the giant screen.
'It will be better if Sri Lanka qualifies,' said Murtaza Badar.
The young 12th grade student is worried about the hard-hitting West Indies captain Chris Gayle, who scored a century in the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago.
Pakistan will on Sunday meet the winners of Friday's second semi-final between Sri Lanka and the West Indies. —AFP/AP/Reuters
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