Shock, disbelief in Pakistan after T20 WC ouster

Published Sat, May 15 10 11:36 AM

Karachi, May 15 (PTI) They were gearing up to celebrate a win when Michael Hussey turned the match on its head, leaving scores of fans in Pakistan shocked at their team''s ouster from the Twenty20 World Cup following the last-over loss to Australia. A pall of gloom descended on the city of Karachi and in other parts of the country after Pakistan were stunned by Australia in the high scoring semifinal of the mega event last night. Australia snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by overhauling a 191-run target with a ball to spare, leaving Pakistani supporters in disbelief. "It is shocking we were just getting ready for a feast and to distribute sweets and to just celebrate a great victory and that was just two overs back and now we are simply stunned and shocked," former Test player Jalaluddin said. Jalaluddin was among thousands of people in the city who had made special arrangements to watch the match with family and friends at their homes where people had set up barbecues and big television screens. People thronged big hotels, private clubs and cafes, to watch the match and as a likely victory loomed large for Pakistan, the celebrations had already begun at most places with people dancing and cheering every Australian wicket that fell. But it took just two overs to change the mood of the as they left disheartened after Pakistan lost despite coming so close to beating Michael Clarke''s men. "It was just poor captaincy and nothing else, our players don''t have self belief, they don''t realise how much we pray for their success," an angry student said in the Lines area. In the Lines area, a lower and congested middle class locality of Karachi, people had set up giant screens on the roads for children and elders watched the match. There were special arrangements to watch the match on generators due to the energy crisis in the country. "I think we should accept defeat with grace, our team played like true champions but in sports one team has to lose and unfortunately it was not our day today but our players made us proud," said Zeesh another student watching the match at Area 51. If Pakistan had won, it would have been their third successive final in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Source: Web Search