Pakistan Newspaper (Boys in Blue)

Pakistan Newspaper (Boys in Blue): Indian newspapers marked the country’s victory over bitter competitor Pakistan in the World Cup semi-finals crossways the front pages Thursday, give a standing ovation the game as an “classic showdown.
After this… the Cup’s a bonus, trumpeted the sensationalist Mail Today, referring to the first all-Asian World Cup final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai that will be played on Saturday.

The epic showdown between the arch rivals lives up to its billing as the match of the World Cup,” the newspaper said after feverish celebrations at the Punjab Cricket stadium in the northern Indian town of Mohali.

In a match watched on TV by millions of fervent fans in both countries, India eclipsed Pakistan by 29 runs in an intense match that assumed political as well as sporting meaning.

The countries’ prime ministers watched the game together and held talks at the ground on improving their troubled cross-border connection.

“Goodbye Pak, hello Mumbai,” said the Pioneer, hailing the “good cricket and even better friendship” of the game.

Several of the newspapers printed stories and headlines in blue to match the Indian team’s colours.

Pakistani media blamed butter-fingered fielding and poor batting for the team’s defeat.

“Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s would-be winner, cast a disastrous shape as his team’s World Cup movement ended in a overpowering defeat at the hands of India,” leading English newspaper Dawn said.

It blamed dropped catches, scratchy shots and Misbah’s slow scoring for the defeat. Urdu language newspaper Jang was also critical of the team’s performance and criticised the players’ “dismal show”.