Pakistan receive traditional Maori welcome in Christchurch

Pakistan manager Naveed Akram Cheema accepts the rautapu (symbol of peace) laid down by a kaiwero (warrior) —Photo courtesy Radio New Zealand News/ Sally Murphy

The Pakistan cricket team were given a traditional Maori welcome to Christchurch, as the City Council, led by mayor Lianne Dalziel, New Zealand cricketing great Sir Richard Hadley and a delegation from Ngai Tahu, received the players on Wednesday.

Following the traditional ceremonial welcome, the Pakistan team travelled to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Fanzone at Victoria Square, and met with cricket fans and the Christchurch Pakistani Community.

“We are honoured to welcome the Pakistan cricket team, who won the cricket world cup in 1992, the last time it was hosted by Australia and New Zealand,” Radio New Zealand News quoted Mayor Dalziel as saying.

“We have a vibrant Pakistani community in Christchurch and they are in particular delighted to see their cricketing heroes here in Christchurch for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 New Zealand,” she added.

Pakistan manager Naveed Akram Cheema said he was humbled by the welcome and he was excited to be in a city full of such friendly people.

"Although we are only here for a short time, we always enjoy ourselves in Christchurch," he said.

The Pakistan team, apparently in the midst of an internal rift, met with locals, signed autographs and posed for 'selfies' with the fans after the official event.

Pakistan will play the West Indies on Saturday 21 February at Hagley Oval, in the second of their Pool B matches.

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Comments (25) Closed

khurram

Feb 19, 2015 08:14pm

The defensive gesture of our team manager in the image shows the state of mind and position of our national team! Hope for the best though;)

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A Pakistani

Feb 19, 2015 08:20pm

Only Sohail Khan deserve a Welcome.

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Jak101

Feb 19, 2015 08:26pm

@khurram what defensive gesture!!

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abraKadabra

Feb 19, 2015 08:29pm

time for great Pakistani players for Selfies....hehe

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AHMED

Feb 19, 2015 08:54pm

Hope they pick themselves up and do better job.

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Aysha

Feb 19, 2015 08:56pm

As the manager cheema said " We will enjoy ourselves in Christchurch", thats whats most important to them. That sums up the story....take some selfies and come back

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maddy

Feb 19, 2015 09:30pm

missing saqlain,inzi,mushtaq ahmed, waquar, waseem, moin,shoaib ,Ijaz... cant forget their names too.. real heroes for your side ....inke saath match kuch alag hi baat thi... true pakistani heroes...

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Feb 19, 2015 09:45pm

every time I check dawn,i fear there may be a news "Pakistan cricket team disqualified from world cup because of indiscipline and internal rift between players"

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Dawar

Feb 19, 2015 09:58pm

Naveed Akram Cheema accepts the rautapu (symbol of peace) laid down by a kaiwero (warrior) he should be manager of rautapu not for the cricket

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Riaz

Feb 20, 2015 12:03am

Who chose Cheema to accept the Peace symbol? The face of the game are the players and our captain should be the one accepting the peace symbol. But then again, our players fell flat on their faces in all the matches, so may be these self serving and nepotist officials can play the game. I am sure they can't do worse than the players they chose.

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Anwaar Huk

Feb 20, 2015 12:41am

@ couldn't that be a blessing in disguise for those fans who fear further humiliation in the tournament? hehe I am not one of those fans. They've played pathetic so far but I'll still back them just when I did during the days of Wasim, Waqar, Inzi, etc. Look forward to Friday encounter.

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cricketlover

Feb 20, 2015 12:48am

Let's hope the team doesn't become too 'soft' (defensive) against the Windies who are capable of pulling off a win on their day. So, Pakistan, watch out and don't take things lightly as this crucial match can determine the ultimate course of progress (or otherwise) of this team which is already creating headlines among its critics. Waqar should put his foot down as regards indiscipline amongst the players and even go to the extent of reporting them to the higher-ups instead of keeping mum on such issues.

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Fido Dido

Feb 20, 2015 01:24am

Does a bickering, feuding team deserve any welcome?

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Rafique

Feb 20, 2015 02:05am

Most over Rated team

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Iqbal

Feb 20, 2015 02:39am

They are gonna eat good food, enjoy nice scenery and keep their egos high causing internal rift and come back losers after the first round. With Ireland batting they way they did and WI now woken up and the internal rift and indiscipline, I feel that Pak has no chance for QF spot.

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khanm

Feb 20, 2015 04:04am

Do we really deserve a welcome. We are being welcomed because of Pakistan. The question is did we ever think about doing anything good for our country?

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Asher

Feb 20, 2015 04:10am

@khurram and to all who are blaming Pakistani Team Manager... he was accepting a symbolic peace plant laid down by the symbolic Mauri Warrior....grow up...the mentaily shown by you and other likes you is one of root casues of issues in Pakistan

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Feb 20, 2015 04:10am

FFS @khurram, please just enjoy this and donot try to read between the lines.

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Fido Dido

Feb 20, 2015 06:04am

Bickering,feuding adults do not deserve any welcome.

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Howzat

Feb 20, 2015 08:54am

Nice to see the great Sir Richard Hadlee on hand to welcome them in Christchurch, the scene of some devastation in 2011 with an earthquake killing around 180 people, which is a lot considering NZ total population of around 4.5m. They have produced some outstanding cricketers over the years, and the current team I believe deserve to be in the final of WC - we should look at their setup and learn a thing or two because Pakistan is not short of talent.

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Howzat

Feb 20, 2015 09:20am

As Qamar Ahmed in his column today wrote Lancaster Park the old venue where Pakistan have such good memories of '92 was destroyed by the earthquake. The current venue at Hagley Park is a new ground which I hope is as memorable for us in 2015.

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Vishal

Feb 20, 2015 10:05am

Oh boy, so many frustrated souls here :) we could have been there. Not yet. it is always good to start tournament with low expectations. Let's see how this World Cup unfolds.

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Suresh

Feb 20, 2015 10:05am

He looked scared!

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M. Saeed Awan

Feb 20, 2015 10:11am

Good wishes for KIWIS too as they welcome us from core of heart when whole world suspecting us terrorists. Thanks again

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Mohi

Feb 21, 2015 01:52am

@khurram It can also be called "showing respect" .