Pakistan New Zealand Semi-final“The favorites lost the match”, “New Zealand defeated Pakistan in the semi-final.. WHY!?” “Pakistan is out of the tournament. Sigh. The team screwed up again”

It does sound very disappointing. After having won so many matches earlier, Pakistan just couldn’t go through to the finals to face Australia. But the fact of the matter is, there is no need to be disappointed.. at all.

Read why, after the jump.

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NOTE

Skip to “2009 ICC Champions Trophy” heading if you want to skip-read.

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Once Upon a Time, A Cricket Fan…

When it comes to cricket, I’m not the biggest of fans. I mean, I was way back in the day… the Pre-2000s: When Pakistan used to win every match.

Ahhh! Those were the days! Scrutinizing each play and discussing it with everyone else in the family. Then actually playing cricket with friends in the evening, imitating the star cricketers…

World Cup 1999

Cricket went downhill after 1999 World Cup Final. The match at Lord’s was the most disappointing match of all time. Pakistan, favorites, WINARS. Thrashing every team. Afridi in full-form…

But then Pakistan; all out for 132 in the finals. Australia take home the World Cup without breaking a sweat.

I lost my love for cricket that very day. After that, it looked like there was no way up for the team. We were losing matches by the dozen. Losing to India. Losing to teams like Bangladesh. WE LOST TO FRIKKIN IRELAND!! :/

2007 + 2009 T20 World Cup

I probably won’t ever be as crazy a fan again, but I started watching interesting matches when T20, as new form of cricket, was introduced.

We loved it because it was all short and sweet. Enthusiasts didn’t like how ICC was changing cricket but it is really the general public ICC has to cater for and, in that, T20 has been a roaring success.

Pakistan almost won the 2007 T20 World Cup. Lost to India by 5 runs. One thing was for sure though: Pakistan was back.

Britain Cricket Twenty20 World Cup Pakistan

Taken from an earlier post on artsyHANDS: Pakistan wins the T20 World Cup, Twitter and Hearts of Many

WE WON THE MATCH! WE DID IT! Now I will be able to tell my grandchildren someday that “Son, Shahid Afridi was our national hero” and that “Beti, Pakistan won the 2009 T20 World Cup when I was 16!” and of course that “Twitter thought I was some spamming robot” and that “Katrina Kaif was hot in our times” or the fact that “I like cookies, go get me some”.

I was obviously very happy.

2009 ICC Champions Trophy

Yes, Pakistan did not reach the finals. Most were angry. Countless depressed. Many were in a state of denial. But I wasn’t hurt the least bit.

Aamer New Zealand World Champions Trophy Semi-final

Because I looked at the bright side of things: Pakistan defeated; nay, obliterated West Indies and our arch-rivals (as they are known) India. We almost won over Australia…

And besides that, our team just played soo well! Afridi entertained us with his signature big hits. Shoaib Malik played responsibly, Umar Gul and other bowlers kept the batsmen under pressure. Younus captained well. You could just feel that a concentrated effort was being made.

New Zealand Semi-final, Pakistan, Champions TrophyYou win and you lose. That’s life. It’s all about the effort and determination. And I believe our team was, in fact, very determined, they just didn’t make the right decisions at the right time in the semifinal!

The spirit, the will to win, and the will to excel are the things that endure. These qualities are so much more important than the events that occur.  – Vince Lombardi

Images Courtesy: cricinfo(AFP and Getty Images).

Published in Us Magazine

An excerpt of this article was published in today’s Us Magazine. Awesomeness!