Karachi, March 12, 2019 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the successful holding of this and previous PSL proves Pakistan is a peaceful country that has successfully overcome the terror menace that threatened it in recent years. This he said while speaking at a reception he hosted for PSL teams, owners, and PCB Officials, including chairman. The reception was attended by Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Corps Commander Karachi Lt General Humayun Aziz, Chairman PCB Ehsan Mani, AVM Ch. Mohammad Ahsan Rafique, COMKAR Vice Admiral Asif Khalid, provincial minister, MPAs and notable.
The chief minister said that he was happy to welcome all the PSL teams and other guests. He added that cricket was a passion for all Pakistanis. “ Your [players, coaches and other foreigners] presence in Karachi was the manifestation of your confidence in this city- which is a city of lights, a city of opportunities, a city that promotes and preaches only love and brotherhood,” he said.
Mr Shah said that Karachi is a city cricket lovers. “This PSL fever has now reached an intense pitch where these days we eat, drink and breath cricket, “The successful holding of this and previous PSL proves Pakistan is a peaceful country that has successfully overcome the terror menace that threatened it in recent years,” he said and added “Cricket is sports that transcends borders and reaches out to people everywhere that it is played. The beauty of Cricket is that it loved by young and old alike in Pakistan and all are very passionate about the game.”
The chief minister said that Last year, he had requested the PCB to allow at least one PSL match to be played in Karachi. “The arrangements, the reception and the atmosphere generated by the crowd at that match made it a memorable event,” he said and added as a result, this year the PCB decided to hold five matches in Karachi and finally Karachi was chosen for hosting all the eight matches, including the final. “This I feel is the result of our hard work last year and Karachi’s passion for cricket,” he said.
He said I hope that the Lahore Qalandars must have enjoyed their visit to Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan. “I asked them, especially the team management, to visit Sehwan again and hold a talent-hunt camp,” he said. Mr Shah urged the other PSL teams to hold hunt talent camps in the rural areas in Sindh. “I am sure our youth will not disappoint you and there are many Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi and Javed Miandad waiting to be discovered,” he said.
Chairman PCB Ehsan Mani thanked the chief minister for his unflinching support and cooperation. Had the chief minister not taken his personal interest arrangements of the PSL event would have not taken place in the city. He assured Sindh chief minister that PCB teams would hunt talent in rural areas of Sindh. On the occasion gifts were given to all players, including 38 foreigners.
For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019(Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk