Lahore—Manager of Dubai bound Pakistan deaf cricket team, Zaheer ud Din Babar has described his team “favourite” to win the 4-nation Deaf international cricket council championship being played there from March 9 to 14.
“The team is a good combination of specialized players and we are confident of its success in the 50-overs format”,he told APP here on Wednesday. The team will leave for Dubai on March 6 and will play its opening match against India on March 9. The two other participating teams are England and South Africa. The deaf team official while throwing light on the preparation of the team for the event said it was currently engaged in practice matches which will end on March 5.
“The purpose of series of these matches is to help the players to fully warm up for the event in which we will be facing tough challenge from England and South Africa and India”,he said.
The team comprises ,Zaka Ahmed, (captain), Nabeel Anjum (vice captain), Muhammad Shakeel, Adnan Ghani,Naeem Arshad, Nadeem, Manzoor Khan,Gohar Usman, Bilal Yousaf, Muhammad Qamar Naveed, Naeem Baig, Mudassar
Nazir (keeper),Muhammad Shahzad and Muhammad Waqas. He said President Deaf Cricket Association Abdul Salam and Secretary, Irfan Miraj took keen interest in raising a formidable outfit by picking up best available talent from 22 high performance players shortlisted during the national deaf cricket championship. “Our participation in the event is a step forward to promote deaf cricket in Pakistan and we are thankful to Pakistan Cricket Board for their all out support and patronage for achieving this objective”,he asserted.
Zaheer said Pak team is also the winner of the Asia Cup held in Pakistan last year.To a question,he said the team is fully prepared to defy Indian challenge in the event as Pak team has some good all rounders including Zaka,Nadeem,Gohar and Qamar, besides having medium pacers in Adnan, Nadeem and Naeem and Shakeel in the role of a spinner.
“We have not lost any match to India since 2006 in all formats of the game (one day and T20) and our players are beaming with confidence and eager to showcase best of their abilities against India to start the event on a victorious note”,said the team official.
Zaheer said Pak team participation in the event will help in portraying a soft image of the country where emphasis is being laid to promote cricket among special cricketers under the fold of PCB. He said the year 2016 is very important for deaf cricket across he globe as Deaf International cricket council is likely to get the affiliation of ICC which is taking keen interest to develop deaf cricket all over the world with a comprehensive activity programme. Programme of matches: (March 9) S Africa vs England, Pak vs India,(March 10) India vs South Africa,England vs Pakistan,(March 12),England vs India, Pak vs South Afrcia,(March 14) 3rd/4th position match, (March 14),final.—APP
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