ISLAMABAD, Jul 21 (APP): The Consulate General of
Pakistan, Manchester and the Pakistani community hosted a
reception dinner in honour of the visiting Pakistani Cricket
Team in Manchester on Wednesday.
The Pakistani Cricket Team is visiting Manchester to
play the second Investec Test Match against England at Old
Trafford Stadium.
The reception was attended by Lord Mayor of Manchester
Councillor Carl Austin Behan, Mayor of Rochdale, Faisal
Rashid, Mayor of Warrington, MP Yasmin Qureshi, MEP Afzal
Khan, High Sheriff of Wigan, Lady and Lord Smith, Chief
Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Hopkins, Chairman Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Amjad Malik, Chief Inspector Umer Khan and a large number of members of British Pakistani communities and cricket fans, a message received here from London on Thursday said.
Welcoming the team, Consul General, Zahoor Ahmed called
them the national heroes of Pakistan and appreciated the
superb performance of the team at the Lords cricket ground
which has made every Pakistani proud.
He said that the Pakistani cricket team has shown a true
team spirit and through their excellence in sports has added
to the positive image of Pakistan. Our cricket players have
shown a great deal of discipline and sportsmanship and are
role models for the youth, he added.
Consul General Zahoor Ahmed congratulated the team on
behalf of the Consulate and the Community on their historic
performance at Lord’s test match and wished them best of luck for the upcoming matches.
He also presented a memento shield to the Cricket team
which was received by Captain Misbah Ul Haq.
A short film on the annual Pakistan parade Manchester
and a documentary on the history of Cricket in Pakistan were screened.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lord Mayor of Manchester
appreciated the contribution of the British Pakistani
community to the British society.
He said that cricket is an important link between the
two countries and the Pakistani cricket team’s visit to
Manchester would further strengthen these linkages.
Speaking on behalf of the team, the Manager of the
Pakistani cricket team, Intekhab Alam highlighted the absence of international cricket from Pakistan and said that it is high time that international teams should pay visit to
Pakistan as we have achieved great success in the war against terror and Pakistan is a safe country to play cricket now.
The community was very excited to meet their national
heroes and made most of the opportunity by taking photographs and autographs with their favourite players.
On this occasion, leading businessmen announced a cash
prize of £10,000 on either getting five wickets or making 100 runs at the Old Trafford Test Match on behalf of the British Pakistani community.
