Malik Riaz gifts £50,000 to Pakistan team for Lord's victory

Pakistan claimed a 75-run win at Lord’s on Sunday after dismissing England for 207 in the first Test of their four-match series. This was Pakistan's first victory in 20 years at Lords.

Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz has announced a prize of 50,000 pounds for the Pakistani cricket team on its victory, INP news agency reported.



The head of Pakistan’s leading property and estate conglomerate was so impressed by the performance of the green shirts that he announced almost a Rs7 million gift.

Riaz was present in the stadium when Pakistan secured its first victory at the Lord’s after around 20 years.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif also called the team and congratulated them.

“Historic Pakistan cricket victory at Lord’s. COAS called Pak Cricket team Captain Misbahul Haq and congratulated him and the team on victory,” disclosed DG Inter Services Public Relations Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa in a tweet late Sunday evening.

Mohammad Amir in his first Test appearance since the spot-fixing scandal at Lord’s ended the match when he bowled last man Jake Ball.



Victory prompted the entire Pakistan team to hit the ground and perform several push-ups in front of the pavilion before rising and performing a salute. It was a reference to the pre-tour military boot camp that the team went through to gain fitness.

Speaking about the match, former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, dubbed it a supreme example of team effort.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the 67-Test veteran credited the entire team for their showing.

“We played ‘collective cricket’,” he said. “It was a massive team effort, from skipper Misbahul Haq right down right to pacer Rahat Ali.”

Qadir reserved special praise for the captain and the batsmen. “Misbah has got great mental strength and he has been duly rewarded for his hard work and persistence,” he said. “Asad Shafiq’s contribution with the bat was outstanding in both innings. Sarfraz played a key role, not to forget the batting contribution that Yasir Shah made in the second innings with the bat.”

Yasir, who bamboozled the English batsmen in both innings and finished with his first 10-wicket haul, brought back memories of Qadir’s own domination of the ‘masters of the game’.

In 16 Tests against England, Qadir claimed 82 wickets and played a leading role in Pakistan’s first win at Lord’s back in 1982.

“He has bowled brilliantly with impeccable control over his line and length,” said Qadir. “He had a great deal of rhythm, read the pitch perfectly and realised very quickly what was the best way to bowl in England. I can draw parallels with my spell in 1982 at Lord’s.”

Qadir also heaped praise on fast-bowler Rahat, who broke the back of England’s run chase by dismissing England’s top-order with the new ball.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2016.