The Consulate General of Pakistan, Manchester
and the Pakistani community hosted a reception dinner in honour of the
visiting Pakistani Cricket Team in Manchester on 20 July 2016.
ThePakistani Cricket Team is visiting Manchester to play the second
Investec Test Match against England at Old Trafford Stadium.
The reception was attended by the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor
Carl Austin-Behan, the Mayor of Rochdale, Faisal Rashid Mayor of
Warrington, MP Yasmin Qureshi, MEP Afzal Khan, High Sheriff of Wigan,
Lady and Lord Smith, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian
Hopkins, Chairman Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Amjad Malik, Chief
Inspector Umer Khan and a large number of members of British Pakistani
communities and cricket fans.
Welcoming the team, the Consul General, Zahoor Ahmed called them the
national heroes of Pakistan and appreciated the superb performance of
the team at the Lords cricket ground which has made every Pakistani
proud. He said that the Pakistani cricket team has shown a true team
spirit and through their excellence in sports has added to the positive
image of Pakistan. Our cricket players have shown a great deal of
discipline and sportsmanship and are role models for the youth.
Consul General Zahoor Ahmed congratulated the team on behalf of the
Consulate and the Community on their historic performance at Lord’s test
match and wished them best of luck for the upcoming matches. He also
presented a memento shield to the Cricket team which was received by
Captain Misbah Ul Haq. A short film on the annual Pakistan parade
Manchester and a documentary on the history of Cricket in Pakistan were
screened.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lord Mayor of Manchester appreciated the
contribution of the British Pakistani community to the British society.
He said that cricket is an important link between the two countries and
the Pakistani cricket team’s visit to Manchester would further
strengthen these linkages.
Speaking on behalf of the team, the Manager of the Pakistani cricket
team, Intekhab Alam highlighted the absence of international cricket
from Pakistan and said that it is high time that international teams
should pay visit to Pakistan as we have achieved great success in the
war against terror and Pakistan is a safe country to play cricket now.
The community was very excited to meet their national heroes and made most
of the opportunity by taking photographs and autographs with their
favourite players. On this occasion, leading businessmen announced a
cash prize of £10,000 on either getting five wickets or making 100 runs
at the Old Trafford Test Match on behalf of the British Pakistani
community.
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