Pak Army and PSL’s Peshawar Zalmi organized Peace Cup’ at the Younis Khan Stadium, North Waziristan
Pakistan Army in collaboration with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi has arranged a cricket series named “Peace Cup” between Pakistan-XI and UK-XI at North Waziristan.
The cricket match was Showcased in the Younis Khan Stadium, North Waziristan in order to promote peace and stability in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Pakistan-XI is composed of top current and former players including Younis Khan, Inzamam ul Haq, Umar Gull, Junaid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Riaz Afridi and Wajahatullah for this series.
The United Kingdom team composed of 18-member group of journalists, lawyers, businessmen and academics, which is touring Pakistan with the aim to improve the country’s image as a sporting nation.
In the UK team of the 18 members, 14 are players, one is an umpire while the rest, including two women are the organisers.
Pakistan XI has beaten UK Media XI by a huge margin of 133 runs in the Twenty 20 game of the Peace Cup.
Early today, UK-XI had won the toss and decided to bowl first. Pakistan XI scored a mammoth total of 253 runs for the loss of just one wicket in their limited quota of overs.
A stellar batting display by all-rounder Shahid Afridi led Pakistan XI to a 133-run victory over UK Media XI in Miranshah, North Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
In response to Pakistan-XI, UK Media XI scored only 120 runs in 20 overs for the loss of seven wickets.
Chief Selector National team, Inzamam-ul-Haq while talking to media stated that this is a great message for the world. “This shows that Pakistan is stable and peaceful and whole world need to know this,” Inzamam added.
British journalist Peter Oborne, UK Media XI skipper renowned for authoring ‘Wounded Tiger: A History of Cricket in Pakistan’, paid tribute to the ‘peace-loving’ people of Pakistan and hailed the country for welcoming him and his team.
Director General of ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor, who was in attendance at the stadium, said the match will prove to the world that Pakistan is a peaceful country.
“We will prove to the world, through the Peace Cup, that Pakistan is a peaceful country,” he said.
The DG ISPR noted that life is back to normal in FATA, and vowed that terrorism will never be allowed to regain stronghold in the region again.
Corps Commander Peshawar Nazir Ahmed Butt was also present at the stadium, along with other dignitaries. Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Iqbal Zafar Jhagra was the chief guest at the occasion.