Sports Writers thrash DG Sports XI

Independence Day sports festival kicks off with opening cricket clash in Peshawar

PESHAWAR:

The Independence Day Sports Festival, organised by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate General of Sports, got under way in fine style on Thursday as the Sports Writers Association comprehensively defeated the DG Sports XI by eight wickets in the opening cricket match at the Peshawar Sports Complex.

Former DG Sports Isfandyar Khattak was the chief guest at the start of the fixture, while Advisor for Sports and Youth Affairs Taj Muhammad Tarand graced the prize distribution ceremony as the chief guest. DG Sports Tashfeen Haider, Director Operations Jamshed Baloch, Assistant Director Shah Faisal, Khyber Union of Journalists Secretary Irshad Maidani, Sports Writers Association President Asim Shiraz, senior journalists Shakeelur Rehman, Imran Yousafzai, Azmatullah and other dignitaries were also present.

Addressing the gathering, Advisor Taj Muhammad Tarand congratulated the nation on Independence Day and said the Sports Department was celebrating the occasion through a full-scale sports festival featuring a variety of games as well as recreational programmes. He stressed that positive activities of this nature were essential for people from all walks of life, as sports and healthy pastimes contributed significantly to physical and mental well-being.

Sports Writers Association captain Asim Shiraz won the toss and invited the DG Sports XI to bat first. The official side managed 100 for seven in the allotted overs. Yousaf Afridi top-scored with 40, while Tashfeen Haider made 22, Nematullah 16, Umar Arshad 12 and Shah Faisal 10. For the writers, Shehzada Fahad claimed two wickets, with Shahid Afridi, Irshad Maidani, Bilal Afridi and Saad bin Owais taking one apiece.

Chasing 101, the Sports Writers Association raced to the target in just the eighth over for the loss of only two wickets. Irshad Maidani played a sparkling 45 while Wajid Shehzad contributed a brisk 40. Yousaf Afridi and Ashfaq Ahmed took a wicket each for the DG Sports XI.

Irshad Maidani was named man of the match for his outstanding all-round performance. Imran Yousafzai, Adnan Shahid, Nabi Jan, Hashim, Humayun, Qadir Khan, Amjad Khan, Farhan Khalil, Shahid and Haq Nawaz also played important roles in the Sports Writers’ emphatic victory.