End of night-time cricket matches

Islamabad

After offering ‘traveeh’ prayers on Ramazan nights, most of the people have a lie-down before waking up for pre-dawn meal to keep fast.

However, many youths in Islamabad opt to play cricket in parks, streets and open areas under lights.

Night-time cricket tournaments, too, are organised in some areas during the current month of fasting.

“We all love playing cricket and doing so under lights is really entertaining,” said Jamil Khan before getting ready to field during a match in Sector I-10/1 ground.  The young man later said night matches were regularly organised during Ramazan and besides players, some local philanthropists, too, made contributions for them.  There are many, who play cricket under streetlights, for being unable to bear the lighting expenses.

Among them are is Sikandar Ali, who plays his favourite sport with friends every Ramazan night alongside the well-lit metro bus tracks near the Allama Iqbal Open University, H-8 campus.

“We come here after offering ‘traveeh’ and play the game until ‘Sehr’ (the time to keep fast). The losing team has to offer members of the winning team cold drinks and snacks. All this healthy and fun-filled activity is much better than sleep,” he said.

He said the people from the neighbourhood also showed up in large numbers to watch matches.