Cricket victory brings pride to Pakistani-Americans
WASHINGTON, June 22 (APP): Pakistani-Americans living in Washington metro area celebrated victory of the cricket team on Sunday, as the cricketers captured World Twenty20 Cup in an inspirational performance for the entire Pakistani nation fighting a host of security and economic challenges
simultaneously.
When star all-rounder Shahid Afridi scored winning runs for Pakistan in the final against Sri Lanka at London's Lords cricket ground, the members of the community burst into cheers and greeted each other on the glorious success on phones, emails, and at gatherings at several places.
"To me it has come as a bright ray of hope --- Pakistan regaining its rightful place in cricket after such a long time is a matter of great pride for us," Shahzad Chaudhry, a local community leader said.
While a number of immigrants, who follow cricket religiously, felt elated with the win, the younger generation also got a feeling of Pakistani achievement in the world sporting arena.
"For the young generation of Pakistani-Americans who have grown up in the States, this is a great thing, they have seen Pakistan attain something really great, they can tell their friends about it at schools and colleagues
at work places," said Junaid Bashir, a Virginia-based businessman.
Pakistan became world champions in 1992 in a famous victory, led by Imran Khan, in Australia and a number of immigrants from cricket-playing nations recognize the vibrancy and high caliber of Pakistani cricket in the United
States, which now has hundreds of cricket clubs that hold regular tournaments.
Haji Muhammad Afzal, whose Ravi Kabob is a popular restaurant with both Pakistanis and local Americans, said the cricketers' success will highlight Pakistan's strength as a nation that loves sport and is gifted with the best talent.
The thrilling news also filled the hearts of Pakistani-Americans with pride and joy in the wake of some tough challenges for the nation that are frequently played in the global media with images of loss inflicted by
terrorist attacks.
For a lot of people the sweeping success symbolized Pakistan's vindication in the face of its fight for hosting world cup cricket matches in two years.
"After missing many close chances in 1999 World Cup and 2007; we have wrested back our top status," Imran Butt, an avid cricket lover and a local businessman said.
The Pakistani-Americans anxiously follow security challenges in the form of violent extremism and suicide bombings in the homeland and saw it as antidote to parochialism.
"Such accomplishments are really great and should give confidence to our nations that is grappling with challenges "and with the Pakistani people and leaders now determined to wipe out terrorists, I find this as a great encouraging news ; we must put up our best to tide our economic and extremism challenges," says Dr. Nisar Chaudhry, the head of Pakistan-American League.
Meanwhile, a number of Pakistani-American organizations have congratulated the nation on earning the world champions title and praised the performance of skipper Younas Khan and all members of the team who gelled into a fighting outfit in the tournament.
