London, June 22: Blink and you're dead, best describes Twenty20 cricket. For a better understanding of that statement, ask the Sri Lankans and South Africans, who remained unbeaten until when it mattered the most. They were done in by that unpredictable team, Pakistan, who have enhanced their reputation as the most dangerous side by winning the Twenty20 World Cup against all odds.

Captain Younis Khan is obviously a happy man but wants his country to be happier. He revealed the boys were desperate for a win to bring about a change back home where the security situation is deteriorating. "We need this World Cup win. This is a gift to our nation," he said after defeating Sri Lanka by eight wickets on Sunday.

After conquering the world, Younis yearned for peace at home. "I hope they (terrorists) listen to me and work for peace. We have seen this is a big problem in countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. I think this should not happen because it affects sports," he pleaded.

Younis hoped the situation in Pakistan would improve after the World Championship win and teams who have pulled out earlier, would be willing to play in the trouble-ridden country. "There is a problem with everything in Pakistan. When you win a big tournament like the World Cup then it definitely brings about a change. I hope we will play some home series now. I request all the teams to come to Pakistan and play. Everybody knows that the law and order is situation is not good but this is not our fault. We need to play home series to groom youngsters and if there is no cricket in Pakistan how can we motivate youngsters at school level and college levels?" an emotional Younis asked.

The Pakistan skipper also appealed the governments of India and Pakistan to keep politics out of sport. "We were barred from playing the IPL for no fault of ours. But at that time, the law and order was not good in Pakistan and the government didn’t allow the players to take part in the IPL," he said, adding "India and Pakistan should play each other more because a lot of motivation can be drawn from those games. The players learn to cope with pressure well. I think sport should be kept away from politics."

Younis then spoke about his team doing it against all odds. "It feels really nice to see where we are coming from. There has been no cricket in Pakistan, not even Twenty20… now we are the champions," he smiled.

But he believed in his team. "Before the World Championship began, when I said Pakistan were among the teams along with the West Indies to reach the last four, everybody thought that I was mad. But I knew if we played to potential we would get that far and then we would need (a bit of) luck to win the semifinal and final. We have proved that we are slow starters, but can suddenly turn it on."

The strategy in the final was simple. Stay cool. Having lost the final of the previous edition (to India) and the 1999 ODI World Cup final to Australia at the same venue, Pakistan were doubly determined this time around. "We lost the 1999 World Cup final to Australia at the same venue, so myself, Shahid and Razzaq chatted to the guys and told them this time we will hold our nerves.

"It was suprising to see (the usually explosive) Afridi play an uncharacteristic knock — he was taking singles and doubles," Younis laughed, who emerged as the last captain standing.