And yet, here we are. Many people will be genuinely dumbfounded. Others will coolly claim they were expecting Pakistan to pull off something as audacious as this precisely because of the turmoil that has hounded them. It is, they claim, just what they do. But inside even they will have been surprised, if only because the extreme turbulence of the last couple of months was exacting even by Pakistani standards.

The nuts and bolts of this win are not, ultimately, as significant as the result itself though they are worth recalling. Coincidentally (or otherwise), as was the case through last year, when Shoaib Akhtar was out with injury and Mohammad Asif plying away for Sialkot and Pakistan A, many contributions stood out. Feel free to choose your own critical one; Abdul Razzaq's late bursts with ball first and then bat, Pakistan's trio of spinners (not quite the golden Indian quartet but you can imagine them being successful in an ODI-kind of way here), Imran Farhat's chancy surge as Pakistan began their reply or even Mohammad Yousuf's composure for all but the 78th ball of his innings.

Personally, I'll jump for Shoaib Malik's masterpiece of pace, intelligence and nerve. He's had a rough few months himself, hopelessly out of form and shuffled out of his favourite position up the order by Younis Khan. He began his innings as if acutely aware of all this so that when Yousuf was out, he had meandered uncertainly to only 13 off 29 balls. But as he has shown repeatedly, the nuances and delicacies in timing a pressure chase in these conditions are not lost upon him. He only hit two boundaries but the sweetest - a six off Murali to bring up the 200 - was the moment when a win became tangible. Surreptitiously, an itchy start turned into a hustled finish.

All put together, it made for a deeply stirring spectacle, one that tugged away at the very soul of those watching it. There is something just so incredibly attractive about watching triumph in adversity, and nothing captures it better in life than sport. It is the type of allure that draws in support from neutrals irrespective of nationality. That the match was tense will have relieved many in a tournament lacking atmosphere thus far but that Pakistan won it will please many more. The air over Pakistan cricket has been lately funereal and the support feels like that reserved for the bereaved.

As a footnote really, they have started the tournament with a win. Not much should be said about their chances for the rest of the tournament, though the bubble of feelgood within which they were floating on the field - to Younis Khan's eternal credit - will be duly noted by South Africa and New Zealand. For the next few, precious days, they can rest easy, having reminded a whole lot of people - and it really needed reminding - that despite being eternally good value for drama in cricket, when they want to, they play one hell of a game too.

Pakistan showed once again how they can play even without key players such as Inzamam or Shoaib Akhtar. Younis Khan was inspiring on the field, if not with the bat, and Abdul Razzaq, as always, could be relied on to keep a cool head under pressure. I think Shoaib Malik's effort was crucial as well; he's been out of form recently and he paced his innings really well.

This win just goes on to show that a team need not necessarily have the best of players, they can conquer without them too. Its not just skill and talent that counts. What counts too is character, the ability to stand up to pressure, the dedication to the cause and perseverence.

Pakistan Zindabaad!

I agree with what is said above but just want to say Bob woomer deserves a lot of appreciation becuase he has played a big role in building of this team and has given these players the support the needed.Hats off for team Pakistan and Bob.

Pakistan did exactly what they had to do. Even with their star players out they have players good enough to beat the in-form team of Sri Lanka to break their long streak of ODI wins, which ironically started after their lost to Pakistan earlier this year. Credit goes mostly to Shoaib Malik and Abudul Razzaq's late performances, but let's not forget Hafeez' and Farhat's early onslaughter that lead to Pakistan's chances to win this game in the first place.

After, what I call,a "Cou'd'tat" by the British Coach of the Pakistan Cricket team, it was a pleasure to see that the sprit of the boys are sky high, where Razzaq sent the last ball to win this match.

What was Woolmer's need to subject the team member's to a drug test before the tournament and then making them public just before the tournament?

Living overseas, I have learnt that Gors cannot be trusted. This is a case in point.

I don't see the point. Yeah it's a big win (every win is big unless against Zim or Ban) but it's not THAT big for several reasons:

- Pakistan didn't annihilate SL, they scrapped around and just had enough gas in their tank to edge SL by a slight margin
- The architect of this win (Razzaq) is a genuine all-rounder who has performed cricketing feats much greater than his acheievement yesterday
- The DEW!!
- And last but not the least, AS IF!! As if (no pun intended), Pakistan is USED to playing with Akhtar and Asif in their ranks. These guys are NEVER fit, and hardly ever at the same time as the other. You take away Akhtar and Asif and Pakistan STILL doesn't look all that depleted. What team wouldn't want Razzaq, Gul, Akmal, Yousuf etc. in their side?

It is time that we realize that Pakistan doesn't just have a cricket team capable of beating any other team in the world, it has one of the brightest and most storied cricketing traditions in the world. Pakistan has a better-than-50% win ratio in both tests and ODI's, has consistently been a powerhouse for the last 25 year (1982 onwards) and has produced superstars, not just stars, SUPERSTARS consistently. It is not like SL having a dream run in the mid-90's without an established superstar or a former legend. Pakistan started producing dominant cricketers as soon as it started playing (Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammad to name two).

For crying out loud, give this cricketing tradition its due and admit that some programs, clubs, traditions are inherently superior to others. Much like Surrey and Yorkshire are inherently superior to other clubs, and the Yankees will forever be the no.1 team in baseball no matter how many world series the white sox win.

And as far as I am concerned, I believe in God but also a lot in data. And data (past successes, number of cricketing legends and their stats and acheievement) suggests to me that no matter WHO Pakistan beats or WHEN, WHERE and HOW, as long as it has HALF it's starting lineup in the playing 11, it shouldn't surprise us. Like I said before, it is time for us to realize that Pakistani cricket tradition is MUCH superior to what most of the world thinks it to be. A Pakistani team playing without 3 of its biggest stars (Haq, Akhtar, Asif) is like an 80%-fit Federer. I would still pick R.Federer to humiliate any other tennis pro at 80%-fit, barring maybe the top 2 or 3. So drop your jaws in shock and be jolted by surprise when Pakistan beats Australia by 150 runs. Call THAT a 'stiring spectacle' and let yesterday's win be just a win.

Perhaps Mr. Sultan Reza does not understand what sort of embarassment would have been caused had these players tested positive in tests conducted by the ICC. This sort of pre-empting has infact been a blessing, because the PCB tribunal can be lenient with these guys and the ICC would not be able to change the ruling since the test was not conducted under the ICC's jurisdiction/auspices.

Sometimes a Gora can be trusted! :)

I am very pleased with the teams performace. I am not totally convinced though that the team can do with out Shoaib, Asif etc. As we all know Razzaq, Malik and Afridi have played the game long enough. You should expect these players to up their game. Australia doesn't collapse when Gillespie has a bad day. If Ponting doesn't hit a hundred, someone else will. So if Pakistan cant do without individual performances,or mr reliables and play as a unit, then they don't deserve to win the tournament. Best of luck to the team.

I think what PCB has done to announce it in public and calling the players back is a very good decision. If these results would have come during the ICC's doping tests, which are due in this Champions Trophy, then you may straight away expect the players be banned for at least 2 years (becuase our players dont have the skin like Shane worn that they would be banned for a year only). Now PCB can punish these players at there own with some light punishment and asking them to be careful in future. I have already suggested in one of my other comment that they should be punished or banned (whatever) but should be ensured to be back in squad in the world cup. Winning the match again SL doesn't mean we dont need them. You would have noticed how week our bowling attack was in first 10 overs or one should say with the new ball. We need them badly and should be treated with some LIGHT HANDS...

in my point of view SL is the best oneday cricket team in d world. but that day SL filding was verry poor condition, specially Dilshan n captain jayawardhana. any how Im sure that SL can win coming two matches which is against NZ n SA.