Acting Governor Punjab Rana Iqbal hosts a dinner for the participating teams of Deaf Asia Cricket T20 Cup

Lahore: Acting Governor Punjab Rana Muhammad Iqbal hosted a dinner for the participating teams of Deaf Asia Cricket T20 Cup on Friday night. Punjab Minister for Sports and Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan and Director General Sports Punjab Usman Anwar were also present on this occasion.
Punjab Governor awarded cheques of Rs One lakh to each member of Pakistan Deaf cricket team for winning Deaf Dosti Cup in India last year.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, while addressing the audience, said Punjab govt organised dozens of world class sports events during the last three years. “The number of sports events in such a short span of time reflected the emphasis of Punjab govt and Sports Board Punjab,” he elaborated.
The Minister said the holding of Deaf Asia Cricket T20 Cup proved to be a great boost for Pakistan’s image abroad. “Zimbabwe cricket team is also visiting Pakistan next month and after that it will be much easier for us to convince other top sports teams to visit Pakistan,” he continued.
Director General Sports Punjab Usman Anwar, in his address, said Punjab govt was holding top class sports events persistently. “We will organise even bigger sports events in the near future,” he asserted. DG SBP said Pakistan’s talented youth have won several titles for the country in the past. He urged the young sports men to work hard and win distinctions for the motherland. “Punjab govt, like its past practice, will reward the title winners in the future as well,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Sports and Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, on Saturday, has rejected the doubts about the security situation in the city ahead of upcoming Zimbabwe cricket series.

The Minister was talking to journalists at the prize distribution ceremony of a cricket match between Pakistan Bahria and Punjab Text Book Board at Gaddafi Stadium. The Minister was also accompanied by Director General Sports Punjab Usman Anwar on this occasion.

Rana Mashhood claimed that there’s nothing wrong with the security in Lahore. “We will provide top class security to the guest cricket team. Foreign teams are frequently visiting Pakistan these days. Three international deaf cricket teams – India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are still in Pakistan for Deaf Asia T20 Cup and enjoying their stay in the country. I think it’s enough to prove the truth of our claims,” he added.

The Minister asked the Zimbabwean authorities to send their cricket team without any hesitation. “Punjab govt will ensure VIP security for the honourable cricketers from Zimbabwe,” he stressed.