LAHORE: The national cric­ket team visited the Army relief camp at the Fortress Stadium here on Tuesday to express solidarity with Pakistan Army in the ongoing relief campaign for internally displaced persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan.

“Players emphasised the need for greater national unity in this hour of trial and appealed to philanthropists and welfare organisations to come forward and join hands to help the IDPs,” said an ISPR statement.

“Pakistan cricket team presented a cheque of Rs400,000 as donation for IDPs,” it said, adding a large number of cricket fans present at the camp made a generous contribution of Rs1 million in a short time of 20 minutes.”

AFP adds: Team manager and chief selector Moin Khan said: “We feel for the people who are forced out of their homes in this ongoing battle, and we are here to show solidarity with our people and we are with our military and to hit terrorism out of the country. I appeal to the nation and people living outside Paki­stan to give as much as they can to help these IDPs,” Moin said.

Also, head coach Waqar added: “If we do not unite in this moment of distress our troubles will increase, so I appeal on behalf of the whole team to donate as much as possible.”

Published in Dawn, July 23rd , 2014