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World cup semi-final: Faiths come together to pray for Pakistan - 31 Mar 2011
Heartbreak in Pakistan, joy in India - 31 Mar 2011
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Afridi does not fear fans' backlash
Pakistan captain says he expects a mature reaction from fans in Pakistan when their team returns.
Pakistani cricket fans react after their national cricket team lost the Cricket World Cup 2011 second semi-final match against India. PHOTO: AFP
MOHALI: Vanquished captain Shahid Afridi expects a mature reaction from fans in Pakistan when their team return after going down to India in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
“In my opinion we have played better than 2003 and 2007 when our teams were much better. Nobody was expecting anything from this team. I am proud of this team,” Afridi told reporters.
The 1992 champions have been unable to play international matches at home since the 2009 armed attack on the Sri Lanka cricketers in Lahore and the recent spot-fixing scandal has raised serious doubts about their players’ integrity.
The scandal robbed them of the services of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir and, understandably, few were prepared to bet on Pakistan winning the showpiece event for a second time.
“I think people have realised that we have put in our full effort. We have won six out of eight matches which is a big achievement,” Afridi said.
“We have confidence (in our fans). Our country has backed us so much. People who love you so much can criticise you as well. It’s not a big deal.” Afridi’s counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni recalled the fans’ ire when they stoned the cricketers’ houses after India’s first-round exit in the 2007 World Cup.
Dhoni said those were the moments when support really mattered. “We are here to entertain. We have always given our best whether it was the 2007 World Cup or the 2011,” he said. “We don’t really like losing and always give our best. We always need the support, especially when we are not doing well.
“We know when we are doing well, the whole of India is with us. But it’s moments like the 2007 World Cup when you really need the kind of support to boost the players.
“I still remember it took me over a month to get out of that kind of depression,” he said.
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And so he should rightly not fear…We are proud of him and the team! Well Done Afridi, We hope that you lead us to glory in the next World Cup as well :)Recommend
inshaAllahRecommend
Afridi you need not worry. YOU HAVE DONE US PROUD BRO!!! You made it the semi’s despite all that happened and you’re apology to us moved me to tears. I will not forgive you because you did not do anything wrong. You showed the world that even a Pakistani team without its most formidable players or at its best is a force to be reckoned with. You stopped Australia’s streak, you took the most wickets at a WC and you bought the nation together for one glorious day. I salute you!!Recommend
Yes, Pakistan performed as well as they could. While Aftidi is credited to bring Pakistani team and nation togather, he, as a captain, has achieved little else. In the all-important semi-final against India, Afridi could not:
– Bring himself up the batting order to meet the challage, promoting Abdul Razzaq, instead.
– Could not take power-play when it could have been more effective and possibly, change the momentul of the game.
– Failed both. with he bat and the ball in the all-important semi-final.
– Could not raise the low stndard of fielding of the entire team.
Certainly, Afridi has special talent as a cricketeer but lacks as a captain. Compare his resources to the limited bowline resources Dhoni had at his disposal and yet how turned them effective, Afridi comes up short as a captain.
Yes, under the circumstances, Pakistan did beat expectations, credit of which goes to Afridi.Recommend
After so many scandals and so many let-down moments, This team was able to reach the Semi Finals! It’s an acheivement in itselfRecommend
Afridi has nothing to fear. The nation is proud of him and the cricket team. Well played boys. We set records this world cup. We successfully prevented Sachins 100th century. We got Yuvraj out on the first ball. Our bowlers are absolutely amazing. The Indians thought it would be an easy win but we proved them wrong. This world cup has made me prouder to be a Pakistani!Recommend
We are proud of you Lala! You have done everything you promised – get to the semis, and not give Tendulkar his 100th century – by catching him out yourself! You are a source of inspiration for us. Well done mate..Recommend
what about all the lakhs of people who prayed to allah to make pakistan win?? all the news video of hundreds of madrassa students offering special prayers & women in hijab crying their hearts out before allah for pakistan’s win??
why do we insist on fooling ourselves into believing what the maulvis have brainwashed us into believing from birth?
Watch “The God delusion” by richard dawkins on youtube or read it in book form & start using your brains instead of blindly following what has been drilled into our minds from birth.
A questioning mind is a healthy mind.Question the religious dogma fed to us from birth by the mullahs.Recommend
Well Done Afridi Agree 100% with your comments… i am not that big a cricket fan but it was Afridi’s efforts which brought back such large viewer ship….
We are proud of you Afrridi…. got Pakistan to Semi Final itself is such a big Achievement….Recommend
Afridi We Love You…. come back home and belive me you will have Red carpet for you… Recahing so far from where you had started is victory in itself…. Pakistan ZindabadRecommend
how u didn,t die before the losing match agianst india u culd win tihs game but you didnt try to win because u have been soold by indian and i saloot them that they have not sold them self but u showed to all over the world that we can be bought by any stopid countery and it was the slept of india on us if u are true pahtoon so u should resigin from the cricket now than ur respect will remian the same inshallahRecommend
“I wanted Pakistan to win. Desperately. But let me be clear: I have not become more Pakistani than I already was … Nor I have became a lesser Pakistani after the semi-final.” And as a mature Pakistani I must apperciate the Team Pakistan that they have played well then most of the teams participated in the event. Insha Allah next time. We must continue with our love and support for the Afridi-11.Recommend
We lost of following reasons:
Dropped 6 vital catches four of which were for Tendulkar.
Poor fielding at the boundry line – 4-5 boundries were given instead of 1 or two runs
Poor Wicket keeping
Slow batting by Younus Khan and Misbah
Pakistan Batting Power Play was intentionally delayed till bowlers arrived at the crease.
Poor Canptaincy.
Batting failure by Akmal brothers, Afridi, Abdul Razzak and others.
Dhoni was seen smiling behind the stumps from 30th over onwards. We cannot believe that Pakistan could not have achieved a very achievable meagre score of 260 runs.
This is also evident that if India might have lost this match, Huge TV Commercial revenue would also have been lost because of non-absence of Indian audience to watch the FINALS.
Looks like a BIG Conspriciry and a well FIXED match and everyone from top to bottom involved.
This needs a full fledged enquiry and Pakistan must kick out old guns who are good for nothing especially, Afridi, Younus, Abdul Razzak, Kamal Akmal and party.
If this is not done immediately, people of Pakistan will loose interest in this game of Cricket.Recommend
We are with you and love you even more ! Boom Boom Afridi ` Pakistan just rocks ‘ :)Recommend
@mansoor.khan:
What nonsense are talking about?? Let alone one can not even make out your rants in this very poorly written and spelled comment!!!!
Afridi and team pakistan have done exceptionally well under the circumstances and given the resources!!! This team at start did not look like it was a unit or going to gel to reach semis!!!!Recommend
what the hell is wrong with you? what did afridi do? stop blaming him. he brought out team to the stage where no one expected us to reach. he is the highest wicket taker in the tournament and he brought unity into the team… he is by far one of the best captains we’ve had who leads … just coz he lost a match your blaming him. its a damn game one has to lose one will win.. and india happend to be the better team! @mansoor.khan: Recommend
Mansoor
Maybe you don’t realize how pathetic you sound writing this crapRecommend
Why should Afridi fear any backlash ?
He still has got the million-rupee commercials on his disposal ..
Talk about paranoia . His egoistic approach combined with foolish fielder placing strategies cost Pakitanis their pride .
Mr.Afridi keep a low profile and do keep your mouth shut .Recommend
@mansoor.khan:
you should be ashamed of yourself for saying something like this. he’s made us proud. he got us to the semifinal. he believed in his team when noone did. he showed the international world that we’re not a bunch of cheaters and that we’re the best and we’re here to stay. he united a team and more importantly a country that fights over nothing and everything. LALA HAS DONE US PROUD. and he deserves a hero’s welcome home!Recommend
@Mansoor Khan^ …..bro, did you get enough sleep after that match? :)Recommend
If 20M rupee is been credited in my account I am also not afraid of any back lash,even if someone slaps me, I ll say to myself what a crazy nation they ll cheer up for me again..hahahahaha bunch of goofsRecommend
welcome home dear :) we are proud of you we love you as always :)Recommend
We are proud of our teamRecommend
@mansoor.khan: please stop thinking in this way. Afridi is a gentleman. he couldn’t do this nor any member of Team Pakistan.Pakistan is in top four teams of World Cup 2011. you are not satisfied.they played this World Cup with the burden of Past one year. Afirdi & Team has done a great work to bring happiness for all of us. we should back them to perform in future. Match fixing allegations?? not again bro…..pleaseRecommend
Afridi you rock…we salute you and our team…Recommend
Well Done Afridi Agree 100% with your comments… i am not that big a cricket fan but it was Afridi’s efforts which brought back such large viewer ship….
We are proud of you Afrridi…. got Pakistan to Semi Final itself is such a big Achievement….Recommend
@Khurram Nizami: You have any proof of that allegation or you are also one of the those crazies? Such a SHAME to have a mind like yours. Recommend
Till yesterday, I did not think that Afridi was a good captain. I thought he did not have a cool head on his shoulders. It is only because he shows too much emotion/ anger on the field, that people have this kind of impression.
After the defeat, he said that he is ‘proud of his team-members’. Now who would not like a captain like that. When other people are looking to ‘witch-hunt’, the captain is solidly supporting his team-members.
He congratulated the Indian team for the win and wished them well for the finals. This shows maturity and level-headed thinking.
Recommend
Kazi Atif (DIPL) Very well done boyz.welcome home dear we are proud of you we love you as always :)CRICKET WE LOVE YOU.Recommend
Disgusting how some of us are so negative, its people like you who have doomed this nation to negativity. if things dont go your way you will even sell your own brothers, disgusting people. i wish we could kick you all out of our country.
Lalay we are proud of you, just fix somethings in our team, and we will be back on top soon.Recommend
I do not agree to anyone who thinks afridi did not perform well as a Captain..I beleive if given a good teams with players like (misbah and Younis) retired, he can really lift the spirit of the team to perform at the top level. thts the way forward with anyone controlling the cricket affairs other than Ijaz Butt… Time to take some strong but sincere decisionsRecommend
Lala we love you we are proud of you… You even can’t imagine how much people love you. YOu have won hearts of millions of people. Proud of you lala you rock. We need players like you we love you.. you made us proud and united..:)
Lala you rockRecommend
goodlooking guys in the picture ;)Recommend
It is dissapointing to see some of people who before the semi final were singing the songs of this man but just 1 defeat thrown away all their patriotism and bringing out allegations without any proof. Someone wisely said ” Its easier said than done”.
Its so easy to be sitting miles away from the scene and comment, neglecting all the efforts and positive attitude the team has shown but difficult to accept defeat in a good spirit, those people whose faith in the team was just a weakened by a defeat . I think BANGLADESHI fans are far better than us for atleast they watch the match with true spirit and knows more about the GAME then many of us do and can be seen from the above illogical and hopeless comments.Recommend
Absolutely Shahid Bhai, we still love u and the whole nation is proud of the team’s achievements under the tough circumstances. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!!Recommend
afridi and the whole team has fixed the match i think..as in past also many fixing charge is against them..SHAMERecommend
Im surprised that people (even a few) are being negative. I couldnt be prouder of my team! And an extraordinary number of people are happy as well! Looking forward to the series in WI now. I hope Afridi stays as captain.Recommend
jxt wana say PAKISTAN N PAKISTAN TEAM XINDABAD…n its all bcz ov AFRIDI n we will alwaz love you AFRIDIRecommend
AFRIDI well a great job in tournament…..he z best & best….all players also done gud job….but misbah ul hak didnt play welll….i think he should be resign now….congratulations Afridi…..booooooooooom booooooomm……..Recommend
we love u afridi…u r our hero….u done a excellent job as a captain & in bowling…….dont say sorrry…its a game….we r proud of u alll…Recommend
Dear Afridi
You have done marvelous job with this unpredictable team. Well done,,, great achievement i would say…. but there is need to change some of players,,,,,, please kick off Kamran Akmal from team, and the old man Misbah too. The other guys are very good. We will miss you shoaib……..Recommend
afridi you have done a good job we all salute you. why you pepole are blaming the pak team its part of game one lose the other wins. pak team have done their best.and hats of to afridi. we all support you.Recommend
well well…. …BUT IT IS SO OBVIOUS that the match was FIXED…..by pakistani team ( not all players though )….Simple mathematics…..tooooooooo much at stake if INDIA had lost…shiv sana + +++ India wants to pacify pakistan government not to let loose taliban as they are too much to handle …so for those pakistani players it was toooo much to resist that the amount that was offered to them…ITS A FACT…. catches are dropped for a reason…top class proven record bowler doesnt go flat .for a reason…man who can hit 6′s in the end like so easy….cant not play earlier for a reason.. THINK THINK THINK >>>Recommend
…and I don’t think Afridi was part of this match fix… this was at VERY higher
level !!!!!!!!Recommend
Afridi and the boez have done well. Best to move on and with that said now please go and wash the butter off your fingers, Give Misbah the industrial strenght soap. Like Imran Khan suggested he may need some sleeping pills.Pakistan gifted India a win, It hurts!Recommend
Afridi we love you and you have done a better job than other captians in 2003,2007 your the man in 2011 with 21 wickets in the tournamnet. great job!Recommend
@Alert:
Don’t you think some credit goes to the pitch for helping out Dhoni’s boys in the second inning?Recommend
One more shame for pakistan after Kashmir. We always loose against India. They always proved themself great nation.Recommend
I have never in my life been THIS proud of Pakistan and our team, all thanks to you Afridi. Thanks for showing the world that we are much more than the stereotype of terrorists. We are a loving, graceful and dignified nation. I LOVE YOU. Recommend
@Sid:
Hey fellas.. I m from india. Its good to see u all guys supports ur team. N there is no doubt tht pak plyed well. But this is game. Win and loss is the part of game.. All the world watchin that pak played well..Recommend
I think Afridi pulled off a task bigger than that of Imran Khan himself. Afridi never had players like Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Aamir Sohail and Inzimam. In fact the closest thing he had to an opening bowling attack got banned before the World Cup even began. Throughout the world cup pakistan did not have an opening bowling attack or an opening batting attack. Afridi kept switching and trying things out, sometimes giving the ball to Shoaib and Razzaq, other times having Gul and Abdur Rehman or Gul and Hafeez even. The same went with the bat, Ahmed and Hafeez, Hafeez and Kamran, switching Kamran’s place with Asad Shafiq. I believe the only reason we got this far was because of the sheer energy and dedication that Afridi brought with himself on the field. Even Imran Khan could not bring the sort of charisma that Mr. Boom Boom brings along with him on the field and for that I salute you. I sincerely hope that Afridi sticks around till the next world cup because he can help us bring home the cup. I appreciate the entire nation’s resolve to support our players, something that I doubt the Indians would have done had poor Dhoni and Team India would have lost the match. If in anyway this message gets across to you Afridi, I will miss you in the tour against West Indies and would love to see you on the field again soon InshaAllah. ‘Humari Duaein Tumharey Saath Hain’.Recommend
@A Raja:
get some sleep man! you seem to be too tired.Recommend
AFRIDI DO NOT SAY SORRYRecommend
@A Raja:
Go wash your face and have a look in the mirror, !!! its people like you with these ridiculas comments that are truly embrassing the genuine pakistani fans!!!!
What higher level is there on the field of cricket than the captain of the team??
Which taliban are you suggesting that pakistan can loosen on india??? the one even they can not stop bombing pakistanis in their own cities or the one fighting in afghanistan??
Rest assure that afghan taliban is too busy to interfere elsewhere!!!!
Where were sjiv sena in mohali????
I suggest you start some actual and serious thinking, rather than suggesting others to do!! as you really have to sort that stupid little brain in your head!!!!
Recommend
shahid bhai dont worry…………we r always there to support our team we really love our team very much…….our prayers are always there with u people………..a sillute to u and the whole pakistaani team 4 making us reach in the semi finalsssssRecommend
The Pakistan team united the whole nation “That what really counts”. Gave us the message of “Unity” and to work for our country for betterment! The match in Bangladesh just reminded me of Pakistan of Quaid (the Great) we need to work hard more not just in sports but also in other fields “Education, Corruption-less State, Agriculture, Industry, Religious tolerance”. If we act on these five parameters I am just sure we would be leading the world. ! Love All !Recommend
Afridi, we are proud of you. You made us pray for you and the team because of the spirit you guys showed . We forgot all our day to day issues because of how you guys performed. You made us through to the semi finals. And you performed well, as a captain and as a bowler. We are soo PROUD of you AFRIDI. Keep it up!Recommend
Yeah, well done Afridi for bringing us to this stage and having us loose pathetically to India. I’d rather we lost to WI. Why raise our hopes only to crush them this brutally. And misbah needs to be pocked with sharp needles for the rest of his life.Recommend
khaleeq khan
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Very well done boyz.welcome home dear we are proud of you we love you as always :)CRICKET WE LOVE YOU.
Recommend
All the Pathans sold us out! Look at the performance of Afridi, Misbah, Younis, Umar Gul to name a few in the final. All of them as, the Pathans generally do, are all after money. They can sell anyone for it. We want a Pakistan without Pathans and their stone age ways!( Pls print this. I dont understand why comments get moderated when one speaks the truth!)Recommend