Last week, the first T20 match was played in Lahore between Pakistan and Zimbabwe after a gap of six years. Who won the match? Of course, Lahorites, regardless of the result on the scoreboard.

No doubt, credit for the successful match also goes to law enforcement agencies police and rangers and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Not a single untoward incident was reported to police or the PCB even though 23,000 cricket crazy fans thronged the Qadhafi Stadium.

People were so excited that they braved 43 degree temperatures on Friday and started arriving at stadium in the afternoon, though the match was to start at 7pm. Two hours before the start, all the enclosures were full, which had never happened even in high-profile series against India held in 2004-05.

The successful tour of the Zimbabwe cricket team to Pakistan will help open the gates of international cricket in Pakistan. No Test playing country is ready to send their team to Pakistan due to security fears after the March 3, 2009’s deadly attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. The way Lahorities welcomed the international cricket in the country, won the hearts of the world. Security agencies also did not create any unnecessary hurdles in the way of spectators. Snacks and drinks were available in some selected enclosures, as no one was allowed to bring in such things with them. Overall, the arrangements were excellent and one can hope a happy and safe departure of the visiting team on June 1.

On Friday, the Qadhafi Stadium also hosted its first T20 match. It was the second match played in Pakistan. The first one was played in Karachi against Bangladesh in 2008. Zimbabwe also earned lots of respect from the Pakistani fans for accepting the invitation to tour Pakistan.

President Mamnoon Husain also arrived at the stadium at 6.15pm, almost 45 minutes before the start of the match and remained their for many hours.

Musical performances during the interval of the match also entertained the spectators.

Lahore is also holding a 15-day long International Olympic Committee Solidarity badminton Technical Coaching Course.

The course will continue from May 25 to June 7 where 20 male and female coaches from all over the country will participate to improve their skills.The Badminton Federation of the World awarded the course to Pakistan.

The World Badminton Federation has also appointed Sambenthan Sivaperume to conduct the course. The badminton game is one of the neglected games in Pakistan and such courses will definitely improve the performance of local coaches to produce better talented players.

It is the first course of its kind in Pakistan after the World Badminton Federation lifted ban on its Pakistan chapter, imposed some three years back due to a conflict between two groups.

This last week, Punjab Powerlifting Association held a women competition in Lahore. The host grabbed the top position, followed by Rawalpindi and Gujranwala. Amna Raheed of Lahore was declared the strongest woman of the event who lifted 260kgs.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play