KARACHI: Pakistan fans and former players Sunday celebrated the team's historic World Cup win over defending champion Australia, saying it had lifted a gloomy nation. Hundreds of jubilant fans thronged the streets after the winning shot, chanting “Long live Pakistan” and “Long live the Pakistan cricket team” in major cities Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani congratulated the team, saying he hoped they would go on to win cricket's showpiece event for the second time. Saturday's loss was Australia's first in the World Cup since losing to Pakistan by 10 runs in Leeds in 1999. Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan praised the team for the victory. “I congratulate the Pakistan team for their tremendous win,” said Imran, who led the team to their only World Cup title in Australia in 1992. “It was a complete team effort and with the natural talent that the Pakistan team has, I think they can win this World Cup,” said Imran. “The mix of youth and experience is helping Pakistan,” said Imran. Another former captain, Aamir Sohail, said Pakistan's bowlers exposed weaknesses in Australia's batting. Tuffey replaces Bennett International cricket chiefs Sunday approved New Zealand's Daryl Tuffey as a replacement player for the injured Hamish Bennett at the World Cup. The Black Caps originally called up seamer Tuffey into its squad Wednesday as cover for Kyle Mills. Bennett suffered an injury to his left ankle and Achilles tendon while bowling during New Zealand's loss to Sri Lanka in Mumbai Friday. He is the first player to be replaced due to injury in the New Zealand squad for the event. Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori believes he will be fit to face South Africa in the World Cup quarterfinals after missing two matches with a knee injury. “I should be all right to get through the batting and bowling, it is just the running around that is hampering me a little bit,” said Vettori. “But I still have a few days left and I am confident of being available.” Vettori said he might have to deal with a little bit of pain but the signs are positive. Lanka's three ‘M's deadly Three ‘M's in the Sri Lankan bowling attack will give most batsmen in the World Cup some sleepless nights as the showpiece event enters the business end with the quarterfinals. Unorthodox paceman Lasith Malinga, experienced off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis have proved to be one of the most potent attacks in the competition. Malinga's knack of churning out yorkers at will, coupled with wily Muralitharan's wicket-taking abilities might tip the scales in Sri Lanka's favor at key moments in the tournament. Add to that Mendis's mysterious “carrom ball” – a delivery, released with the flick of his middle finger which turns a bit like an orthodox leg-spinner after pitching – and Sri Lanka has a bowling attack that has enough variety to make life miserable for the most famed batting line-ups. New Zealand's batsmen realised exactly that in their final group-stage match Friday when it was shot out for just 153 while chasing 266 for victory. Incidentally Sri Lanka's only defeat in the group stages – against Pakistan – was when Malinga was out nursing a sore back. Malinga can strike with the new ball or the old reverse swinging one with the same amount of precision while the spinners have been most potent during the middle overs. Captain Kumar Sangakkara knows his team's strength perfectly well. “New Zealand is always a very competitive side... A very well-balanced and a very smart side... They always do very well in World Cups or big tournaments so we never take them lightly,” Sangakkara told reporters after the win. “But the variation in our bowling attack is a bit troublesome. So we try and maximize on that fact but at the same time we try and make sure that we put good totals on the board. I think they find Mendis, Murali and Maliga quite difficult.” Sangakkara's observation could be applied to all their remaining opponents in the World Cup. Hence Muralitharan's hamstring injury Friday against New Zealand will probably be Sangakkara's only worry ahead of its quarterfinal match.
