The Twenty20 World Cup

When Lankans gifted final to Pakistan...

The Sri Lankans had a golden once in a life time opportunity of engraving their names on the ICC World Cup Twenty20 Trophy and pocketing the winner's prize money of US$ 515,000, but blew it all up with some poor changes in the batting order.

Came Cup final day and the consensus was that the Lankans were going to be the second winners of the trophy.

Sri Lanka had beaten the Pakistanis in a Super Eight game and on form were going to repeat again.

The Sri Lankans had won six games in a row "two in the Group games, three in the Super Eight and the semi-final and on that form, were favourites to win the final.

Making it to the media box in the lift with me at Lords's was former England legend and now commentator Ian Botham.

I asked Botham how he thought the game would end. Without batting an eye lid he said very emphatically and loudly - SRI LANKA.

Every seat was full at Lord's and there were many spectators clamouring to get in to watch this epic final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan two cricketing superpowers in the Asian region.

The wicket was a good one and the side winning the toss was going to draw first blood. Sangakkara won the toss to loud cheers from the large gathering of Sri Lankan supporters.

But like it happened in a previous game, Tillakaratne Dilshan who won the Player of the Tournament award went for a duck in the fifth ball of the first over. But in that game sensible batting made us overcome the early loss and the rest of the batsmen put sufficient runs on the board for us to win.

But this time round lo and behold who comes in one drop, left hander Jehan Mubarak. Now when Mubarak was slotted in there it was with a purpose. Now if he cannot serve that purpose, where is his worth?

baseball shot

He came in and instead of making runs played a baseball shot and went scoreless. Two wickets for one run was unacceptable. The two early wickets gave the Pakistanis the break that they needed and didn't they rubbish the rest of the batting.

When an early wicket went, it was the responsibility of the captain Sangakkara to walk in and take the bull by the horns as it were and dictate.

That is the job of a captain, who it is said leads from the front.

But sadly Sangakkara was found wanting this time round.

Then also it was inexplicable the sending of Isuru Udana before Angelo Matthews, Udana came and wasted deliveries and thanks to Matthews who hit out lustily and was involved in a 68-run stand took the Lankans to 138 for 6 in their 20.

The Pakistanis went about getting their runs in exemplary fashion.

Kamran Akmal blasted a quick 37 and went at 48. Then at 63 they lost Hasan and that was as far as the Lankans could get.

The Magnificent Ms - Muralitheran, Mendis and Malinga for once failed to fire and with Sahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, two of their most experienced campaigners getting amongst the runs, victory was not long in coming and when it came it was deserving. Afridi who was the player of the match made 54 NO and Malik 24 NO.

deafening cheers

When the Pakistanis achieved victory, it was deafening to hear the cheers and the now famous and familiar cry - PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.

The usually vociferous Sri Lankans and their lion flags were missing. Walking out of the ground I failed to spot one Sri Lanka who was cheering in defeat. Only the few sporting the Sri Lankan shirt were prominent, while not one flag was seen waving.

Now the questions to ask the Sri Lankan selectors on tour is: When the likes of Chamara Silva and Jehan Mubarak were continuing to fail, why were they persisted with.

Why wasn't Indika de Seram given a go. Why was also allrounder Farveez Maharoof benched?

Poor Seram and Maharoof were just tourists. How they would have been hitching to have a go. They deserved it.

After the game Sri Lankan cricket fans and two of them ardent supporters Colin Fernando and Cassim Jaleel were asking me. Where's Chamara Kapugedera. Why isn't he brought instead of Mubarak and Silva? Good question.

Pakistan skipper Younus Khan who was estatic after the historic victory said: This victory has given a big boost to our terrorist stricken country.

It was fantastic. We were underdogs and all credit goes to the team.

"We know at this time we needed a victory like that - especially a World Cup. I think it is a gift for our whole nation. Now we are champions and as everyone follows Twenty20 cricket. We will hopefully have some more home series coming up.

Pakistan - new structure

Hopefully, this win can see us build a new structure in Pakistan for the future. Younus also dedicated this victory to their former late coach Bob Woolmer who died during the World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007.

Finally Younus said: "This final must go to Bob. He would be very proud if he was alive now. He was a father figure to us."

So as for the Sri Lankans, it was thus far and no more. It was because of poor team selection and poor thinking in the batting order.

The winning of the ICC World Cup Twenty20 would have meant so much for our cricket. But it was sad that we blew it all up and threw it away when it was there for the asking, if not taking.

One hopes the Lankan cricket selectors and those selectors on tour would learn.

Kumar Sangakkara, it must be said led his men most admirably. A bit more of positive thinking could have made his first fling as captain of the national team a memorable one.