Andre Nel, Kalicharan, Jayasuriya hail facilities at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium

By Shehzad Owaisi

Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah gets tributes from international cricketers

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 25, 2012: International cricketers recently toured Pakistan for a couple of festival Twenty20 matches in Karachi and during their trip they freely roamed around the biggest metropolis defying all the impression in international media about security concerns in the terrorism-hit country.

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While most of the players that made the International World XI returned home after participating in the two exhibition matches on October 20 and 21 at National Stadium Karachi, former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya, former West Indian cricketer Alvin Kalicharan, and former South African fast bowler Andre Nel stayed a little longer in Karachi.

During their stay in Karachi, the three former cricketers roamed through some of the busiest markets in the metropolis and interacted freely with their fans without having to worry about security.

Recently, Sanath Jayasuriya, Andre Nel, and Alvin Kalicharan visited Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium, which is owned and run by Sindh Sports Minister Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, who accompanied the players. Administrator of his AO Clinic Nusrat Fahim and Vice Chairman of Asghar Ali Shah Sports Foundation, Dr. Syed Junaid Ali Shah, were also present on the occasion.

The foreign cricketers visited various enclosures at the Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium and had but praise on their lips after visiting the hostel built for cricketers at the Stadium premises.

Talking to reporters, these cricketers said that Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali Shah is a true sports fan and his passion has helped him in coming up with such a place fully equipped with modern needs of the game.

Sanath Jayasuriya told reporters that Dr Shah has done a marvelous job by constructing and running the Asghar Ali Shah Cricket Stadium without any government help and the cricketers from Karachi can never forget his contribution for the sport.

Alvin Kalicharan said on the occasion that Dr Shah is a passionate sportsman and once he aims at doing something for the sport he achieves all of his goals.

South African fast bowler Andre Nel said that by holding the two Twenty20 matches, Dr Shah has proved to the world that Pakistan is a safe country for cricket.

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Sanath Jayasuriya urges world to resume cricket in Pakistan

By Ubaid Awan

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 18, 2012: Former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya urged the cricketing world on Thursday to resume international cricket activities in the terrorism-hit Pakistan.

Talking to reporters at Karachi Airport upon his arrival for the two festival Twenty20 matches against Pakistan Stars XI, Sanath Jayasuriya who is leading the International World XI said, “In my opinion Pakistan is a safe country for international cricket and teams should show big heart and start playing cricket in this country”.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are not part of these two exhibition Twenty20 matches but Sindh Sports Minister Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah has done a great job by inviting foreign cricketers for the country’s first cricket activity on home soil since terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Mary 2009 in Lahore.

Since those deadly attacks, none of the Test playing nations visited Pakistan for a bilateral cricket series and Pakistan had to be stripped of its right to co-host the last year’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Pakistan Stars XI, led by Shahid Afridi, will take on International World XI, led by Sanath Jayasuriya, on Saturday and Sunday at National Stadium Karachi and final renovation work is going on at the stadium these days while the sale of tickets is already in full swing.

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Dr Shah renames WorldXI for exhibition matches

By Ubaid Awan

ICC Objection results in renaming of World XI as International World XI

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 17, 2012: Sindh Sports Minister, Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, on Wednesday, changed the name of World XI to International World XI after the International Cricket Council objected on the name.

The ICC spokesman, Samiul Hasan told local media, “The ICC doesn't permit the names World or World XI for exhibition matches”.

A letter has been sent to the Pakistan Cricket Board in this regard, he added.

A Pakistan Stars XI led by Shahid Khan Afridi will take on International World XI led by former Sri Lankan legendary captain Sanath Jayasuriya in two Twenty20 matches to be played at National Stadium Karachi on October 20 and 21.

Cricketers from West Indies, South Africa and Afghanistan are participating in the two Twenty20 matches which would be the first time since March 2009 that international cricketers would tour any part of Pakistan.

In the first major international cricket event in Pakistan in more than three years, the Pakistan Cricket Board has already allowed the event organizers to use National Stadium Karachi and also let its centrally contracted players to participate in the matches.

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World XI to meet Pakistan XI next weekend in Karachi

By Shehzad Owaisi

Pakistan XI vs World XI at National Stadium Karachi on October 21, 22, 2012

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 13, 2012: International cricket will return to Pakistan next weekend when World XI will take on Pakistan’s All Stars XI in two Twenty20 matches at National Stadium on October 20 and 21.

 

Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, Chief Organiser of the matches, told TheSportsNEXT.com on Saturday that former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya will lead the World XI, while former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi will lead the Pakistan XI.

Both the matches will be played under lights and special arrangements have been made by the match organizers.

Sales of tickets will commence from October 16 while cricket lovers in Karachi will have free shuttle bus service to carry them to the National Stadium.

In this regard, a high-level meeting was held in Governor House on Saturday where Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ebad finalized security and other arrangements with IG Sindh Fayyaz Leghari, Colonel Shafiq of Pakistan Rangers, Commissioner Karachi Hashim Raza Zaidi, Administrator KMC Mohammad Hussain Syed, Secretary Sports Saeed Awan, Secretary Excise Manzoor Memon, and President Karachi Club Cricket Association Sirajul Islam Bukhari.

World XI will have services of explosive cricketers like Ricardo Powell, Steven Taylor, Jermaine Charles Lawson, Adam Sanford , Justin Kemp, Lungile Bosman, Mthandeki Tschabalala, Andre Nel, Andre Johann Seymore, Nantie Hayward, Shapoor Zadran and Muhammad Shehzad Muhammadi.

Pakistan XI will consist of Shahid Afridi (Captain), Younus Khan, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Shahzaib Hasan, Khalid Latif, Umar Akmal, Fawad Alam, Shoaib Malik, Umar Gul, Muhammad Sami, Wahab Riaz, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Faisal Iqbal, Anwar Ali and Imran Nazir.

Pakistan’s reserves include Tanvir Ahmed, Rameez Raja, Faraz Ahmed Khan and Azam Hussain.

Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, who is also Sindh Sports Minister, told this scribe, “We have finalised all the arrangements to hold these matches in a befitting manner under tight security”.

He further stated that the World XI will arrive in Karachi on October 18 and both the teams will have practice sessions at the Karachi Gymkhana.

Karachi Municipal Corporation will hold a special dinner and reception in honor of both the teams on October 19.

The Sindh Sports Minister said that cricket fans can purchase tickets for the matches from Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, KCCA Stadium North Nazimabad, Pak Star Cricket Ground Malir, Landhi Gymkhana Cricket Ground, and National Coaching Center opposite National Stadium from October 16, 2012.

Talking about the special shuttle bus service, Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah said that a free shuttle bus service would be available for the cricket spectators after every half an hour from 5pm on the match day from Orangi Town, New Karachi, Federel B Area, Landhi, Korangi, Malir, and Nazimabad.

Giving details of the match officials, he said that Saleem Badar and Riazuddin will be onfield umpires while Shakeel Khan will fulfill his duty as TV umpire.

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