Dinner for Pak Cricket Team
Cricket not only a game, but also way of life for fans: Pak envoy
By Jamil Khan @ Gulf Today-Sharjah, February 21, 2012
DUBAI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Jamil Ahmed Khan said that the visiting national cricket team has been providing a world-class game to cricket fans in the UAE.
He was addressing the guests, officials and a number of dignitaries at a dinner he hosted for the Pakistan cricket team at The Address Hotel, Downtown Dubai on Sunday. The others who attended the dinner were Tariq Iqbal Soomro, Consul General of Pakistan in Dubai; Zaka Ashraf, Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB); Haroon Lorgat, Chairman, International Cricket Council (ICC), besides M.K. Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Abdul Rahim, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Dubai, Haji Rafiq Giga, Rafiq Pardesi, Imran Chaudhry, Arif Polani, Mirza Mehdi Hussain and many Pakistani businessmen.
Khan said, “Our team has proved that they are the best players from Pakistan and have defeated the England team in the Test series. The great thing about this tour is the game presented by the Pakistani team has satisfied cricket fans all over the world,” he said.
He also appreciated the UAE’s role in hosting the series and entertaining cricket fans residing in the country, especially the great number of Pakistanis, along with great facilities of the local stadia. “The same way we progressed in cricket, we can achieve anything in any field as we have the best minds in every sector. All we need is to extend sportsmanship in every sector as we are presenting ourselves to the world in various fields from cricket to trade in this region,” he added.
Khan pointed out that cricket is not only a game for its fans but also a way of life. “Cricket fans, especially Pakistan cricket game lovers, are among those who maintain their daily schedules in order to watch live matches and witness the making of history on the grounds,” he said.
Regarding the upcoming matches between the two teams in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the Ambassador said that the Pakistan team will show their great team spirit to win the remaining matches including a one-dayer and 2 T20s.
PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf remarked that losing a couple of matches didn’t matter as the Pakistan team had defeated the world’s No 1 team in the Test series. He said, “We have the best brains of Pakistan cricket and we will prove our abilities in the remaining matches and entertain the fans.”
He also said that the Pakistan cricket team would not disappoint its fans as every player was ready to give a great performance in the upcoming matches.
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