RAWALPINDI - Star-studied Pakistan A team outclassed Hamza Shahbaz XI by 60 runs in an exhibition cricket match to raise funds for IDPs here at Pindi Cricket Stadium late Friday night.
The Twenty20 match was scheduled to start at 10pm, but after a delay of more than one hour and 30 minutes, it finally started at 11:35pm. The organisers should have used commonsense and reduced overs keeping in mind people who thronged stadium in bulk had to observe fasts. Tickets were mainly sold out to PML-N local leaders including former MNAs, present MNAs, MPAs and other top leadership along with their supporters were very much present at the venue.
In the absence of Afirdi, Pakistan A was led by Test discarded Fasial Iqbal, who won the toss and opted to bat first. Sharjeel Khan and Sami Aslam opened the innings and punished the Hamza XI bowlers at will. They put on 147-run opening stand. Sharjeel was particularly very severe on Hamza XI bowlers hammering 60-ball 101 with 15 fours and four sixes. Sami also batted well for his 56 hitting seven fours, but as soon as they departed, none of the other batsman could hit lusty blows as Pakistan A posted 205-5 on the board in 20 overs. Karamat Ali took 2-13, while Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal and Hammad Azam got one wicket each.
In reply, Hamza XI were bowled out for 145 in 16.5 overs. Atif Ashraf made 36, Hammad Azam 32, Umar Akmal 17 and Kamran Akmal 11 runs. Haris Sohail grabbed 3-16 for Pakistan A while Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bahtti took two wickets each. Boom Boom Afridi also chipped in with one for 18 runs.
Earlier, the crowd was waiting for start attraction Boom Boom Afrid and Hamza Shahbaz for several hours before first Hamza arrived at 12:30am and spent some time with the crowd. He also addressed them and assured his all-out support for IDPs and saluted brave soldiers of the country, who are laying down their lives in the line of duty. He urged others to shun politics of hatred and join hands for the noble cause.
Hamza has said that the pack to capacity crowd has send a clear message to the world that Pakistanis are sports loving nation and despite hot and humid weather, they turned up in bulk to fill the stadium. “We will continue to arrange more matches for the IDPs.” He also thanked martyrs families who were present at the venue as chief guests.
Afridi arrived the stadium at 1am and as soon as he entered stadium, not only the entire stadium erupted with joy but also the top leadership of the government gathered around him.
Some ugly scenes were also witnessed as youngsters jumped from stands and invaded the pitch. Local security looked completely hapless. The PCB always make excellent security arrangements and never in the history the pitch was invaded, but this time despite giving assurances of foolproof security, district administration failed to control the situation. Situation outside the stadium was even worse as genuine ticket holders were not allowed to enter the premises, while on the other hand, security personal were busy in accommodating their blue-eyed persons.
The VIP gate was supposed to entertain Rs 10,000 and above ticket holders, but the ground reality was completely different. Influential persons, local leaders and their near and dear ones without having tickets were allowed to enter through main gate and given VIP treatment. Journalists, females, kids and senior citizens despite being promised to be provided with water and other facilities, but despite several requests, none of the local administration officials bothered to pay attention as they were busy in other important issues to look after.
Afridi only bowled two overs. The masses just came to watch Afirdi in action and instead of bowling, he should have batted for Hamza XI, which could have calmed down them. As soon as the Hamza XI innings folded, crowd invaded the pitch, which forced prize distribution ceremony to be organised inside the dressing room of Pakistan A.
Afridi honoured with gold crown:?Former Member National Assembly (MNA) M Hanif Ababsi fulfilled his promise of honoring Shahid Afridi with gold crown for his explosive performance against arch-rivals India during the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.  Talking to The Nation, Abbasi said: “I have fulfilled my promise today. The gold crown was ready since long but I was waiting for proper time to hand over it to Afridi.” After the match, Abbasi put the beautiful gold crown on Afirid’s head to the rousing cheers of pack to capacity crowd.
Sharing his views, Afridi thanked Abbasi and people of Rawalpindi for their love and support and promised to try to live up to their expectations in future too. “I have established a charity hospital in Karachi and it will be functional very soon.”