.. attack on Sri Lankan team on Pakistani soil .. and the world got another reason to corner Pakistan. Pakistan and Pakistanis became the most notorious things on the planet. The Godfathers of cricket refused to tour Pakistan. Pakistani players became persona-non-grata for IPL. And finally ICC made its contribution to make the wounds of Pakistan even more grave, by disallowing Pakistan to host the matches of 2011 Cricket World Cup.

.. under such immense pressures, unhealthy atmosphere and unfavourable conditions, Pakistani players made their entry in the T20 World Cup.

But the outlook of Indian camp was quite different. As always, the Indian players were having their extreme over-confidence, due to the extreme hype created by their extremist media. Anyway, the frogs of well cant think big.

.. and here was the team who was always under-estimated by the pundits of the cricket. The pundits had already declared that this is not the team that should be called as 'favourites'. And hence, this non-favourite Pakistani Team took a below-average start in the tournament. Lost both of the warm-up matches. Lost the first pool match as well. Probably Pakistani players were still warming up. Won the match against Netherlands, and hardly showed their existence in super-eight. Lost a crucial match against Sri Lanka. But it seemed that the warm-up session was completed by this defeat, and now they started the real action. Beat New Zealand in a nail-biting match, and the success story took the start.

On the other side of the story, the scenes were changing. As Pakistan was warming up in its pool, India was cooling down in its pool. All hotness was gone, and finally the defending champion was no-where in the tournament.

Those who were saying that Pakistan reached the semi-final just 'by chance' .. had to shut their mouths when Pakistan beat the un-beaten and most favourite, South Africa. And how Pakistan won the final, and took the trophy, probably cannot be explained in words.

Words simply cant elaborate the kind of pressures that these Pakistani players had. They were under-estimated by many .. they were cornered by the world .. they had the sad memories of Bob Woolmer .. they had the bad memories of World Cup 2007 ..  and their country is facing probably the worst ever turmoil of history. And under these conditions, these guys brought the joy in the lives, and smile on the faces of their fellow countrymen. Few million rupees as reward would probably be good for them, but these limited amounts cannot be matched with their un-matched heart-wining performance.

.. and this heart-wining performance demands, as the Right Said Fred's song says, at-least to .. 'Stand up for the champions' .. ;)

                 jin ko jalna ho wo araam se jal jaatay hein

germi-e-hasrat-e-nakaam se jal jaatay hein

ham charaghoN ki tarah shaam se jal jaatay hein

shama jis aag mein jalti hai numaayish k liye

ham usi aag mein gum-naam se jal jaatay hein

khud-numaayee to nahiN shaywa-e-arbaab-e-wafa

jin ko jalna ho wo araam se jal jaatay hein

bach nikaltay hein ager aatish-e-syaal se ham

shola-e-aariz-e-gulfaam se jal jaatay hein

jab bhi aata hai mera naam teray naam k saath

jaanay kyooN log meray naam se jal jaatay hein

                                                       - Qateel Shifaayi -