By AM Khan
LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: The second edition of the Asia Deaf Cricket Cup will be played here from December 11 at different venues with four foreign teams participating.
This was stated by Zaheerud Din Babar, Chief Executive Officer, Asian Deaf Cricket Federation, at a news conference here on Wednesday. Also present were Raza Rafique, President Pakistan Deaf Cricket Association and Irfan Miraj, Secretary, PDCA.
Zaheer, who is also the manager of PDCA, said foreign teams were taking part in the event including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Afghanistan. “Pakistan will defend the title in the event which aims at promoting cricket among special people who have impaired hearing,” he added.
He praised the worthy contribution of Pakistan Cricket Board for sponsoring this event after their requests to a number of private business houses for extending financial assistance ended in failure.
“We are thankful to the Chairman, PCB, Mohammad Zaka Ashraf for serving the cause of deaf cricket and extending all out support for holding this event and we believe that PCB's contribution will go a long way in bringing good name for Pakistan deaf cricket abroad,” said Zaheer.
He said the matches will be played at LCCA, Bagh-e-Jinnah grounds with the final December 17 final to be played at Gaddafi Stadium. “If Gaddafi Stadium will not be available then we will be holding the final at Bagh-e-Jinnah ground,” he said.
The PDCA official said all arrangements have been finalized with the cooperation fo different government quarters for providing top security to the participating teams. “The matches will be 50-overs-a-side and we anticipate good crowds at all the venues.”
He said efforts have been to groom a strong Pak team to successfully defend the title. “We arranged country wide trials and the best available talent was picked to gel it with experience and we are fully confident that our team is going to produce an outstanding show to live upto the expectations,” he said.
Two matches will be played every day. He said the holding of the Asia Cup will send a positive message to outer world regarding Pakistan which is fully capable of organizing elite sport events. He said it was quite unfortunate that deaf cricketers despite being the Asian champions were without jobs and appealed to the Government to provide jobs to talented deaf cricketers who are playing their due role in the building of a healthy society despite having hearing deficiencies. He also appealed to the business houses to lend support to deaf cricket by sponsoring their national and junior level tournaments.
