MUZAFFARABAD: While Pakistan is in the grip of cricket frenzy following the launch of World-XI series, on a relatively low profile another cricket team from the United Kingdom is touring different parts of the country “to prove and promote its soft image and suitability to host the most popular sport.”

“We are cricket mad… And since Pakistan was undeservedly isolated, we are making conscious attempt to bring Pakistan and cricket and world together,” said Peter Alan Oborne, a British journalist and broadcaster, who is captain of the team. He was talking to this correspondent at a hotel here on Thursday.

“We are giving a message to the whole world: You can come and play cricket here. Indeed it’s joyful to play here,” he added.

The team from the Wounded Tiger Cricket Club is part of an 18-member group, comprising journalists, lawyers, businessmen and academics aged between 21 and 62.

Around 14 of them are players, one is an umpire and the rest, including two women, are the organisers.

The group arrived in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday on an invitation AJK President Sardar Masood Khan had extended to Mr Oborne at a function of Pakistan High Commission in London three months ago.

On Wednesday, it played a Twenty20 match with AJK Prime Minister-XI in the Chehla Bandi campus of AJK University. The second match on Thursday was cancelled after three hours due to heavy downpour.

AJK minister for sports, youth and culture Chaudhry Mohammad Saeed was the chief guest at the both events.

Prior to Muzaffarabad, the Oborne led team played two matches with the Aitchison College Lahore and the University of Sargodha.

It would play six more matches in the northwest of Pakistan. Team members are all praise for Pakistan for its rich culture, history, hospitality and the standard of sports.

“Pakistan is a very successful country than what people in many parts of the world tend to understand… Ironically, it has been misrepresented and misunderstood in the world,” said Mr Oborne, who is the associate editor of The Spectator and former chief political commentator of The Daily Telegraph.

Alexander Massie, an Edinburgh-based freelance journalist and team’s vice captain, said the tour was a big learning experience for them as all except him and Oborne were visiting Pakistan for the first time.

He regretted that Pakistan was always in the news for bad reasons.

He said Pakistan did face difficulties, troubles and other serious issues that had to be addressed and improved for the betterment and the greater welfare of the Pakistani people.

“But this is the country you can tell is full of ambition and full of potential and it just needs to have the opportunity to realise that ambition and potential.”

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2017