Friendly fixture: Old Ravians beat British High Commission

The cricket match was part of the union’s annual reunion activities

LAHORE: The British High Commission and Old Ravians played a cricket match on the Government College University’s (GCU) Oval Ground on Friday.

Old Ravians won the match watched by hundreds of students and alumni. Vice Chancellor Hassan Amir Shah and British Council Director Kevin McLaven were also present.

Winning the toss, Old Ravians XI chose to bat first and scored 139 runs in 15 overs. Former chief secretary Pervaiz Masood and Old Ravians Union president Kamran Lashari opened batting for their team. Maznoor Elahi and Shahid Anwar scored some quick runs in the middle overs.

Chasing the target, British High Commission XI scored 94 runs. Kevin McLaven and Ben French from the British Council had put up some resistance. Actor Ali Tahir grabbed four wickets and was declared man of the match.

VC Shah said, “Nobody but the festivity has won. The contest provided a wonderful opportunity to our students to enjoy live cricket, and interact with their seniors and people from the British Council.”

Kevin McLaven said the match was a wonderful experience for them. “We will come to the GCU again next year with a stronger team.” He said the ‘Old’ Ravians were clearly young enough and energetic.

Old Ravians Union (ORU) honorary secretary Khalid Manzoor Butt said the match was part of the union’s annual reunion activities. He said some of the Old Ravians from India would also attend the reunion festivities this year.

Lashari said that the union would organise festival matches with other foreign consulates and high commissions too. Ali Tahir said cricket was not just a game. He said it had become part of an international culture. He recalled playing for the GCU cricket team when he was student. ORU executive committee members Naeem Tahir, Kazi Afaq Hussian and Asjad Ghani Tahir were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2016.