ISLAMABAD: Amid the trials and tribulations associated with the Panama Papers investigation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif enjoyed a rare moment of levity when he met the Pakistan cricket team that recently won the Champions Trophy 2017.

“Like every other Pakistani, I also wanted to meet you and shake your hand. You are the real leaders; you’re the actual prime minister,” the PM told Sarfaraz Ahmed and his men at a ceremony held to honour the green shirts at the PM’s Secretariat on Tuesday.

He also urged Pakistan Cric­ket Board (PCB) bosses Shahar­yar Khan and Najam Sethi not to beg any nation to come play cricket on Pakistani soil.

Asks PCB officials not to ‘plead’ with any country to tour Pakistan; shares cricketing anecdotes from his youth

The prime minister seemed to enjoy his time with the cricketers — away from the humdrum of political theatre — and regaled the audience with tales from his youth, when he was an avid cricketer.

“I was always irked whenever a bowler would try to bounce at me, and would try to hook him to the boundary,” he said, adding with a grimace: “If not for six, at least for a four.”

His current problems with the joint investigation team (JIT) notwithstanding, PM Sharif recalled how he was once evicted from the pitch of a Railways Technical Institute ground near Brandreth Road in Lahore. “That hurt me even more than [appearances before] the JIT,” he said, to peals of laughter from the audience.

The colourful ceremony, which was attended by members of the national team, PCB officials, federal and state ministers and other dignitaries, the prime minister told players the past was with them and that the future would also belong to them. “We shall prevail in every field... you can apply that to anything,” he said with a smirk, which was perceived as a message to his political rivals.

He compared the state of the Pakistani team in the Champions Trophy with the state of the country when he took over the reins of government in 2013.

He also took the opportunity to highlight the various successes of his government, saying that his government had opened up the country to tourists, facilitated the growth of industry and built motorways that connected the entire nation.

Saying that teams would come to Pakistan as conditions improved, he told PCB officials: “Don’t beg with any team or country to tour Pakistan. The teams that are willing to come are welcome. But, please don’t beg. We also have some self-respect and a position in the world, time will come when they will flock to you,” PM Sharif said, addressing Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi.

He also recalled the legends of Pakistani cricket, from players to commentators, and told the players they were no less legendary than past heroes. But unlike himself, he refrained from criticising his rivals — especially his arch-rival, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan — during the course of his speech.

The PM’s remarks are being seen as a reference to the PCB’s failed attempts to convince foreign teams to visit Pakistan. The cricket board has also been pleading its case with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to play a bilateral series with Pakistan.

At the end, PM Sharif distributed prizes among the winning team and PCB staff that had contributed to the remarkable victory.

A press statement issued after the event said the players were given Rs10 million each, chief selector Inzamamul Haq was given Rs10 million, bowling coach Azhar Mahmood was given Rs5 million and team manager Talat Ali was given Rs2.5 million, while other PCB officials such as media manager, social media manager, in-charge tour operations and cricket analyst were given Rs2.5 million each.

Members of selection team were also awarded Rs1 million each, while head coach Michael Arthur, fielding coach Grant Trafford Luden and batting coach Grant Flower were also given Rs5 million each.

At the outset, Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed also recited a naat, which was very well-received by the audience.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2017