Excitement vanishes with defeat

ISLAMABAD, March 30: The excitement and plans to celebrate the result of the second semi-final vanished with the defeat of Pakistani team at the hands of India on Wednesday. With the start of the second innings in the match, the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad started giving a festive look as cricket lovers wearing green T-shirts and faces painted with the flags came to the roads on their motorbikes and cars. The young and the old gathered around giant screens placed at various points in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. They cheered in excitement when a player hit a four or faced a fierce delivery. Whenever an Indian wicket fell people jumped and danced in jubilation and fired gunshots in the air. Fatima Jinnah Park drew the largest crowd where a large screen was installed. The other gathering was witnessed in front of the Islamabad Stock Exchange building. However, after the match ended, signs of gloom were visible on the faces of  youngsters returning back on their vehicles only waving Pakistani flags but not raising any slogan. Earlier, in the day the otherwise bustling and noisy Rawalpindi city wore a deserted look with traffic off the road, shutters down in markets and cricket lovers confining themselves to their homes. On Benazir Bhutto Road, where snarl is a common feature, hardly a vehicle could be seen. However, in the evening youngsters wearing green shirts and faces painted came out in their vehicles showing victory signs, bringing the hustle and bustle back to the city. They also resorted to firing in the air, injuring a minor girl. Keeping in view the vulnerable security situation, police enhanced patrolling on the city roads. Since big screens were banned by authorities in the city for security reasons, most of the residents in Rawapindi thronged the federal capital to watch the match at public places. "It is quite disappointing that the authorities have not installed big screens for the vast population in Rawalpindi city. We are going to Islamabad to enjoy the match," Raees Fakhar, a cricket fan said. Meanwhile, young doctors, striking for the last one month for pay raise and better health services at government-run hospitals in Punjab, stayed at homes to watch the match. "We have decided to stay at home instead to watch the mother of all cricket matches," said Dr Abbas Khan. He said that strike provided them opportunity to watch the cricket match between Pakistan and India at home. However, for the patients at District Headquarters Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, the administration had arranged TV sets to watch the match. At more than 20 places traders and local installed big screens despite the ban imposed by the city district government. Rawal Town Municipal Administration (RTMA) launched operation against those who installed big screens at main roads without prior permission of the administration.Town Officer Regulation Tauseef Ahmed Malik claimed that the RTMA staff had removed five big screen television from Rehmanabad at Benazir Bhutto Road, College Road, DAV College Road, Ghausia Chowk near Dhoke Kala Khan. —Dawn Report