Pervaiz Rashid inaugurates Pak-Sri Lanka blind cricket series in Faisalabad

Lahore: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday said that visit of Sri Lanka Blind cricket team to Pakistan would highlight its soft image and open the doors for international cricket.

The three-match T20 series would give a positive message to the world that Pakistan was a peaceful country, he said while inaugurating the first match between the blind cricket teams of Pakistan and Sri Lanka here at Iqbal Stadium.

The minister thanked the Sri Lankan government for allowing it’s team to visit Pakistan and invited other foreign teams to play cricket here. He said the foreign teams had abandoned visiting Pakistan due to untoward incidents in past. The visit of Zimbabwean Cricket team followed by the Sri Lankan Blind Cricket team would pave way for other foreign teams to start playing cricket in Pakistan, he added.

Pakistan, he said, would provide complete security to foreign teams.
The minister said if there were peace in the country then its stadiums would brim with players. It was the national duty to provide peaceful and conducive atmosphere in the country so that foreign cricket teams were encouraged to visit Pakistan, he added.

The minister said,”Blind cricketers are just like our brothers and sons and it is our moral obligation to encourage them.” He appealed to the citizens of Faisalabad to visit the stadium in large number to watch the two teams in action. Success or failure was part of the game but those, who delivered, should be appreciated, he added.

He appreciated the divisional and district administrations,officials of Iqbal Stadium and Blind Cricket Association for organizing the T20 series. He said the Sri Lankan government had cooperated with Pakistan in taking preventive measures against dengue and the visit of Sri Lankan Blind Cricket team was another appreciable act.

About the defeats of Pakistan team in T20 World Cup, Pervaiz Rashid said the Minister for Interior had already talked in detail on the matter last day.

Captain Pakistan Blind Cricket team Muhammad Jameel and Captain Sri Lankan team Rowano Santha introduced players of their respective teams to the minister.
After winning the toss, the Sri Lankan captain decided to bat first and the minister formally inaugurated the event by hitting the ball.

Pakistan Blind Cricket Council Chairman Sultan Shah, District Coordination Officer Faisalabad Ejaz Khaliq Razaqi, City Police Officer Faisalabad Afzal Ahmed Kausar were also present. A large number of spectators were in the stadium to watch the match.