Pak media sees political hope despite sporting loss

Earlier in the evening, euphoric fans fired in the air at the fall of each Indian wicket. The firing led to one death and injuries to 50 others.

This morning, the papers saw light on the horizon even in the gloom of defeat.

Cricketers have broken the ice, and it is now upto the politicians in the two nations to pick up the threads and mend bilateral ties and relations, said the media.

While noting the anger, frustration and even bursts of joy that prevailed during the heart-stopper clash, the media called on politicians to take cue from the way people united and rooted for the Pakistani team which fought like brave but lost to a better side.

It said the politicians should work on policies and enthuse the people with the same unity and spirit, `The News` daily said in an editorial.

Another daily said that cricketers have proved that they are the best and now it is time for the politicians and the administrators to get their act together to provide a secure and conducive environment in Pakistan for world cricketers to come and play here.

"This may prove more challenging and difficult in these tiring times than winning a World Cup," `The News` said.

Most of the headlines on the front pages of the newspapers reflected the gloom of Pakistani cricket fans at their team`s loss to India.

"India hold nerves to defeat Pakistan in the mother of all battles," was the headline in `The Statesman` daily, while `The Dawn` headlined its report "cricket mania evaporates after anti-climax".

Newspapers carried reports of anguished fans returning home dejected from parks and stadiums where authorities had put up giant screens to show yesterday`s epic clash.

`The Dawn` newspaper said in its editorial that this cricketing get together should serve to help revive the composite dialogue rudely shattered by the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.