Pakistan Refused To Lose

"They belong to a land which is accustomed to turmoil." Ian Bishop said it when Abdul Razzaq sealed a nerve wrecking Pakistan's victory against Sri Lanka with a Six in 2006 at Jaipur, India in ICC Champions trophy. If we look at the scorecard now, it seems like an ordinary ODI with a tight finish and we wonder why Ian got so excited to use these words that feel quite an extreme keeping the occasion in perspective. But it wasn't that match situation Ian was referring to, neither the Jaysuria's onslaught early on nor Afridi's 13 ball 1. It was the backdrop.

Inzamam was banned for four matches for "brining the game to disrespect" Younis Khan who was his natural successor being the vice-captain resigned from his job just 2 days before the start of tournament. Muhammad Yusaf was appointed captain just to be announced by Nasim Ahraf later that Younis will lead the Pakistan Squad. It wasn't just the captaincy circus, Pakistan's pace attack dou of Shoaib Aktar and Muhammad Asif failed the dope tests before start of the tournament. Pakistan's first match was against Sri Lanka and Pakistan came from way behind to win the match.

Many of Pakistan cricket's major events include Sri Lanka, be it Afridi's 37 balls 100, Gaddafi Stadium holding a world cup final or most infamous of all, a terrorist attack on Cricket team in Lahore. Pakistan cricket was stripped of its home and it took refuge in desert. A little over a year after Pakistan lost its respect in England as three of its players were jailed for corruption, and just when all seemed to be lost, we heard that 'Pakistan Cricket should be banned.'

Aftermath of these events gave Pakistan an anti-hero named Misbah-ul-Haq and he happily accepted the role of a scapegoat. He even took so much flake that he must have felt only sane man in an asylum. But one thing he made sure was resurgence. One step at a time, but he made it sure. He didn't lose any test series in Pakistan cricket newly adopted home. He times and again told everyone how hard is to be not able to return home.

The luck has hardly been poetic just to anyone and it wasn't with Misbah either. Cricket came home but only after he retired. On May 22nd, 2015 exactly after 2217 days of exile, cricket came home. Gaddafi Stadium was vibrating till it’s very foundations. And finally, Teams were lined up on the green outfield. It was the moment when it was hard to believe that how much a nation can love a game. And then Pakistan's national anthem started.

Right at that moment, it felt that there is something bigger than the game itself. It was the victory, a victory before even a single bowl was bowled. It was a victory before even the match started. Some say it was the victory of cricket. But it wasn't, it was Pakistan's victory, it was Pakistan's victory in cricket but before the game of cricket started. It was Pakistan’s victory in cricket against those who tried to take their first love away from them. National anthem never meant so clearly to people singing it. Cricket was never celebrated more. Game was never loved more.

Game after national anthem didn't matter much. The crowd cheered for everything. Zimbabwean batsmen were throwing our bowlers all over the place. Shoaib Malik nearly killed the match, but everything didn't matter because victory was already celebrated. A Victory from way behind. A victory when we were cornered. A victory when hope was lost and Suddenly Ian Bishop's words made a lot more sense. We do belong to a land which is accustomed to turmoil.