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.

-->

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.

Read More

Dr Shah lashes out at Brian Lara

By Shehzad Owaisi

Sindh Sports Minister doesn't like Brian Lara's statement

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) October 24, 2012: Sindh Sports Minister, Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali Shah said Tuesday that he never offered legendary West Indian cricketer Brian Lara 1.5 million US dollars to participate in the two festival Twenty20 matches.

-->

The Sindh Sports Minister recently organized two exhibition Twenty20 matches between Pakistan Stars XI and International World XI which the home side won easily. During the two-match series, a statement by Brian Charles Lara emerged where he claimed that he was offered 1.5 million US dollars to play these games but he refused since the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was not officially supporting the matches.

Lashing out on one of the greats of the game, Dr. Syed Mohammad Ali Shah said that the statement by Brian Lara surprised him because the left-hander was offered 15,000 US dollars for the participation.

“Brian Lara had demanded 50,000 US dollars to play two festival matches which was way above our budget which is why we didn’t pursue him although he was ready to visit and play in Pakistan for 50,000 US dollars”, Dr. Shah stated.

He added, “The legendary Brian Lara shouldn’t have come up with false statements”.

Read More

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.

Read More