Balls fly where bombs once used to

Cricket match held in Waziristan shows region's improved security

KARACHI: Former national team captain Shahid Afridi was the star of the show as he helped Pakistan XI to a 133-run victory over UK Media XI in an exhibition match played at Younus Khan Cricket Stadium in Miran Shah, North Waziristan on Thursday.

The match, organised by the Pakistan Army in collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan Super League Champions Peshawar Zalmi, was named the Zalmi Peace Cup 2017 and saw the visiting UK Media XI opting to field first.

Pakistan XI posted a strong total of 253 in their allotted 20 overs as Afridi scored 80, while wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal and middle-order batsman Umar Amin chipped in with half-centuries of their own.

In pursuit of their 254-run target, UK Media XI were able to muster just 121 runs, resulting in a heavy 133-run defeat. The match was about much more than just the result though.

In addition to the aforementioned trio, the Pakistan XI also featured current chief selector Inzamamul Haq and other household names such as Younus Khan, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul, Mushtaq Ahmed and Wajahatullah Wasti.

But more than the result, the purpose of promoting northern areas and deliver the peace message through cricket was more important.

British Journalist Peter Obrone, who captained the UK Media XI, said he would take nothing but fond memories back home from his visit of Pakistan.

“We have visited Kashmir, Chitral, Gilgit and many other cities and saw how much welcoming and loving people are of these cities and Pakistan [in general],” he said. “It feels fantastic after playing the Pakistan team who [I must add] are a brilliant team and who play with lots of joy... it's an amazing feeling."

Talking about the message of the event, he added, “The message is clear that Pakistan is a friendly country. Everywhere we went it was so enjoyable. If you look back five years the condition of this area was worse but now it is peaceful. The crowd here that has suffered for so long was also brilliant.”

Pakistan XI skipper Inzamam, meanwhile, in a lighter mood said that the match ticked off another achievement on his cricketing CV.

“It was only Waziristan left where I had not scored runs,” he quipped before adding that they could never have imagined of playing cricket in Waziristan. “Through this and the last week's Independence Day Cup the message has been sent that we can organize a match anywhere in Pakistan and the credit goes to Pakistan Army whose efforts made it possible."

The legendary batsman further said that the national team already has several players from the region and that more work is underway to increase that intake.

“PCB has increased its work in these areas to provide them facilities such as grounds and make teams from this region then organize matches... soon you will see a lot of players coming from this region,” he added.

Meanwhile, DGISPR Major Gen Asif Ghafoor said: "The people of Waziristan have suffered a lot but are now back resettling in the area. We are happy to see smiles on their faces, they deserved all this."