British PM impressed by performance of Pakistan cricket team

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May has praised the performance of Pakistan cricket team at the Lord’s historic cricket ground.

The Prime Minister and her husband Philip John May joined Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman (PCB) Najam Sethi, businessman and former Punjab assembly lawmaker Dr Ashraf Chohan and Romana Ahmed at the Lord’s and watched match second day of match between England and Pakistan.

The prime minister, an avid follower of cricket since her days at the Oxford University where she was introduced to her husband by the former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, spoke to Najam Sethi about the performance of two teams and exchanged views on the current series that has drawn sold out crowds.

She told the PCB chairman that Pakistani team had played a good game and showed lots of promise. She said that Lord’s was the home of cricket and spectators always loved watching the game here. She said that Pakistan and England matches are interesting.

The Prime Minister said Pakistani team had performed well on the first day of the match through a good bowling spell. Pakistan managed to out all English players at the score of 184 on the first day of the game. On the second day, Pakistan managed to level the score of 184 at the loss of three wickets.

Najam Sethi said that Pakistani team was in good form and showed discipline. He hoped that the team will continue to perform well and will win the series.

Theresa May stayed at the Lord’s for over three hours and watched the match keenly and mingled with the Pakistani crowd and others including officials of the English Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council.

Dr Ashraf Chohan told this correspondent that it was a pleasant surprise for everyone to find Theresa May in their midst. “We were enjoying the match and the good weather and Theresa May arrived unannounced. We were all surprised. She showed so much interest in the current game and talked about cricket. She is very knowledgenable on cricket.”

She looked relaxed and took advantage of her new MCC membership which she obtained by jumping the 26-year waiting list for the famous cricket club. “The job of British PM is punishing and she loved relaxing while watching the match. She could have relaxed more if Pakistan didn’t have upper hand in the match so far!,” commented Dr Chohan.