It’s the final of the T20 World Cup, Tilkaratne Dilshan, the guy who brought havocs on every team in the tournament, is facing a 17 year old young left arm pacer who just made into international cricket… what followed is a stuff of legends. A short pitch delivery, Dilshan tries to play a hook shot over the deep fine leg but fails to anticipate the ploy setup by Captain Yunus Khan and Muhammad Amir. Shahzaib Hassan takes Dilshan’s catch at fine leg and Sri Lanka loses their trump card in the first over. Everything started to come together in coming overs for a victory to make way for Pakistan.
Pakistan needed that victory, Pakistani nation needed that victory. Starting from the terrifying episode of 2007 ODI world cup when Pakistan lost Bob Woolmer, every event was pushing Pakistan’s cricket into dread. Captains were coming and leaving, news about team grouping started to become more common than team’s victory in the ground. Pakistan was hoping to see a resurgence after 2007 T20 world cup final defeat but things fell apart even further.
Read more: Shahid Afridi believes Pakistan can win a second T20 World Cup
Attack on Sri Lankan cricket team appeared to be the last nail in the coffin for Pakistan cricket team. International cricket came to an end as ICC moved matches of 2011 world cup from Pakistan to other host countries. Pakistan for the time being lost the few friends it had in ICC.
Then the T20 world cup 2009 happened. Pakistan with a relatively stronger team than 2007 world cup under the leadership of Yunus Khan brought life back to cricket in Pakistan. Right when Pakistan was witnessing cricket isolation, its cricket team delivered some of the most impressive cricket memories.
From Umar Gul’s spell against New Zealand, Abdul Razzaq’s unplayable swinging deliveries which even Sanath Jayasuriya couldn’t read, Afridi’s catch of Scott Styris, Amir’s maiden first over in the final, Afridi hitting sixes to Muralitharan in the final and his flying kiss to Jacque Kallis, everything brought an end to the darkest hours of Pakistan cricket.
A historic win! 👏 #OnThisDay in 2009, Pakistan won the T20 World Cup at the @HomeOfCricket after defeating Sri Lanka in the final by eight wickets 🏆 #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/Swgd3kJuPg
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 21, 2022
A 17 year hiatus ended when Afridi held his helmet in his one hand and bat in other on June 21, 2009 after playing a match winning knock of 54. His pose was an announcement that the future of Pakistan cricket team is not bleak.
Now thirteen years later, Pakistan cricket is far bigger, stronger and excelling under the leadership of Babar Azam, a talent one for the ages. The current poll of players is younger and more dynamic than the winning team of 2009 world cup.
Read more: Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam eyes to win T20, ODI world cup for Pakistan
Cricket is one the very few things which bring the entire nation together. A successful campaign in the coming world cup in Australia later this year can bring the nation together again which is now once again living in the dark hours due to country’s grim political and economic condition.