LAHORE: The Pakistan women’s cricket team stole the show at the unveiling of the ICC World Cup trophy on Sunday night.
Dressed in white shalwar kameez and green sports blazers, five members of the women’s cricket team, the fielding coach, Abdul Majeed, and PCB Women’s Wing chairperson, Bushra Aitzaz were invited twice onto the stage in a tribute to their recent success at the Asian Games.
“It was a great feeling to win,” said an elated captain, Sana Mir. “It was just great to do it for the country.”
The event, which was held at the United Marquee, by Castrol had an elaborate array of entertainment such as a red-carpet hosted by Natasha Hassain and Adnan Malik while Saima Mohsin was the master of the ceremony. In attendance were several of Lahore’s designers, media personalities and socialites. The trophy was unveiled through a Juni-choreographed dance performed by the famous classical dancer, Nighat Chaudary, with several other dancers methodically intertwining dance styles from different cultures. The performance culminated with the dramatic entrance of the event’s chief guest and cricketing legend, Wasim Akram.
Akram during his unveiling of the World Cup said that he had seen the women play a few years ago and was sure that they had talent. “I also saw the lack of training facilities that they struggled with,” Akram said. “It’s a huge win. They were given the proper support and one can see that it paid off. They made our country proud,” said Akram while congratulating the team.
Speaking about the next world cup, the former captain hoped that Pakistan would lift the cup in 2011. “It is necessary that Pakistan put behind the recent controversies and focus on winning next year’s world cup,” Akram advised.
In Akram’s opinion India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are the teams “to look out for” during the 2011 World Cup, “For the first time in a while Australia will not be the favourites.”
Bushra Aitzaz, while talking to the people in attendance, urged the Pakistanis to support the men’s cricket team. “We have to support them. There is a lot of negativity going around but we have to continue to support them,” said Aitzaz. Later, Ali Azmat entertained the crowd with a dazzling array of music, which included classics from his old band, Junoon, while unleashing some of his recent hits such Bum Pata and Na re Na.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2010.
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