Pakistan geared up for disabled cricket series in Bangladesh

The event is being organised by ICRC and will be monitored by ICC.


Nabil Tahir August 26, 2015
Pakistan will play their opening match against Afghanistan on September 3 in Dhaka. PHOTO: PDCA

KARACHI: Pakistan’s disabled cricket team is aiming for no less than a title win in the first ever Five-Nation International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) tournament set to commence in Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 2.

The 10-day event will feature Pakistan, India, England, Afghanistan and hosts Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s 16-member team — currently the top disabled team in the world without having lost a single series to date — has played against England and Afghanistan but will face India and Bangladesh for the first time.

The team is training for the upcoming event at the National Stadium of Karachi under head coach Zafar Iqbal and assistant coach Muhammad Javed.

“We are currently the top side of the world and will give our best to keep this position,” said Iqbal. “We are fully prepared to win the tournament. The players have been training at their respective clubs of the Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association and are in form. Although we don’t have the latest equipment that the other teams do, our boys are well trained and will definitely produce good results.”

Talented cricketer Matloob Qureshi, who plays with one hand, said he is a bit under pressure as this will be the first tournament of its kind. “Hopefully the pressure will subside before we leave for Bangladesh on August 30 after five days of training,” he said.

Skipper Major Hasnain Alam, who lost his foot in a mine blast, told The Express Tribune that he is working on motivating the players for the big tournament. “All players need some inspiration to play for the country, especially for the match against India,” said Alam. “They all have the required skills needed to win the tournament, but just need some confidence.”

The event is being organised by the ICRC in cooperation with the Bangladesh Cricket Board and will be monitored by an ICC correspondent.

The opening match will be played between England and the hosts on September 2, while Pakistan will face Afghanistan on September 3.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2015.

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