Islamabad
The exhibition T20 match between Pakistan Cricket Control Board (PCB) XI and Diplomatic XI here at Marghazar Cricket Ground Friday marked the symbolic beginning of 11th Cricket World Cup
High commissioners of three countries; Australian Peter Heyward, British Philip Barton, Sri Lankan Jayalath Weerakkody and Ambassador of the European Union Delegation Lars-Gunnar Wigemark also played in the Diplomatic XI that lost the match by 60 runs.
The teams were PCB XI: Azhar Khan, Intikhab Alam, Umar Ameen, Raja Ashraf, Shehryar Khan, Tauseef Ahmed, Marzio, Adam Ilman, Janesh, Tahir, Jehanzeb Ghafoor, Babar Azam, Mohsin Kamal.
Diplomatic XI: Mansoor Rana, Hammad Azam, Adnan Akmal, Muhtashim Rashid, Peter Heyward, Danni Caruana, Chris, Barker, Philip Barton, Mark Bainbridge, Stavros Lambropoulos, Lachlan McLeod, Rayyan Ghaznavi and Zohaib Ahmed.
The winning team was led by former Pakistan’s skipper Intekhab Alam.
The match was jointly organised by Australian High Commission, PCB and Serena Hotel. The daylong celebrations were initiated with the match and later Cricket Club House was inaugurated in Serena Hotel and the opening was performed by Michelle Galopin and Intekhab Alam jointly.
A grand launch reception was held at the Serena Hotel to celebrate the start of the Cricket World Cup which opened last night in Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealand High Commissioner had flown in especially for the event from Tehran where he is Ambassador to Iran.
Shields and kits were handed out to players of the Exhibition Match.
Music was the hallmark of the evening.
Speaking at the ceremony, Peter Heyward said Pakistan and Australia share a passion for cricket which further strengthens the ties between our two nations. I wish Pakistan well in the coming series. The CEO of Serena Hotels, Aziz Bulani said that it is heartening to see the response especially from our diplomatic and media friends and we look forward to welcoming
everybody at the Serena for our World Cup Cricket campaign in collaboration with the Australian High Commission.