KANPUR:
Mehboob Hasan
, Pakistani skipper
Sarfraz Ahmed
's Etawah-based maternal uncle and his family, who had been praying day and night for India's win reacted with disappointment to India's defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the
ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval in London.
Hasan, however, asked the fans to back the team in difficult times. "It will only boost the morale of the Indian squad as this is not the end of the world. India will definitely make a comeback," Mehboob said. He, however, praised
Hardik Pandya for scoring a quickfire 76.
Mehboob says that he and his family had offered special prayers during Ramzan for
Virat Kohli & Co to perform well. A senior clerk in Bhimrao Agricultural Engineering College in Etawah, Mehboob and his wife
Samar Fatima
told TOI that apart from fasting, they also prayed for the Indian team. "But it's unfortunate that it couldn't lift the trophy."
He also made no bones about where his loyalties lay. "No doubt Pakistan were led by my nephew Sarfraz, which of course is a proud moment for us, but when it comes to the nation, our country is above all." An avid cricket lover, Mehboob, who remained glued to the TV set soon after offering 'zuhar' (afternoon) prayers, said that the performance of the Indian team currently was good, but the fire of the earlier games was missing.
"I am hopeful that they will improve their performance in the coming days," added Mehboob. "Allah answered our prayers last time when India beat Pakistan in the Group opener. We were very much sure they would be answered this time also, but Allah had something else in store," he added.