Pakistan and the power of redemption

The Pakistan supporter was festooned in cream and green, and carried a chalkboard round his neck with the legend: ‘My wives think I’m at the mosque.’ By the end of the day he was a very happy man, along with millions of others both here and on the subcontinent. Pakistan’s astounding victory in cricket’s Champions Trophy was redemption on an epic scale, both for the team and its most lethal player. In a field of eight they qualified in last place. Shortly after just making the cut in 2015 they lost to Zimbabwe: had that defeat come a few days earlier it would have been West Indies rather than Pakistan in the tournament. And you can bet your life West Indies would have come nowhere near the final, let alone winning it.

The leading bowler last Sunday was Mohammad Amir, who struck out India’s renowned top order in just a few overs. Six years ago, Amir was led away to prison after being the victim of a particularly nasty newspaper sting. Now older, smarter, fuller in beam and body, he fired down his left-arm seam that was almost unplayable.

At 8 a.m. there were 5,000 fans waiting at the Oval; the ground could have been filled many times over. This was sport at its finest: an intense national rivalry, enacted on the field with ferocious but fair intensity; in the stands passion, pride and friendship. These were supporters mixing happily, humorously and loudly. The woman in the sari wore her England cap back to front to keep the sun off her neck. The drummers in Beefeater uniforms pounded away. Even the boxer Amir Khan popped up to say he hoped it would drive more young people to take up cricket.