Pakistan reacts to defeat with anger

Karachi:

Minutes after Shoaib Malik's team lost the Twenty20 World Cup final to India in Johannesburg, Pakistan's angry cricket lovers burnt effigies of Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi to vent their anger.

In yet another incident that revealed that people can be very unforgiving when it comes to conceding defeat against India, the incident occurred at the stadium where the Asian Football Confederation tournament is being played in Lahore these days.

In Karachi also, mobs in some places gathered to raise slogans against the Pakistani players particularly Afridi and Younis.

"What the hell! This is the second time we lost a match to India in the World Cup. Such a big match and such careless play from senior players like Younis and Afridi. It is so disappointing to lose like this to India," Kamil Butt said as his friends engaged in animated discussion on the final at a fast food restaurant.

Given the level of interest in the final, five-star hotels, fast food chains and small restaurants on Monday had all set up television screens and arranged special Iftaar menus to attract crowds as the people also broke fast during the match itself.