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Pakistan win the cricket world cup — but not the one you think
Pakistan may have failed to make it to the semifinals of the coveted ICC Cricket World Cup, but the country's lawmakers fared better than their counterparts from six other countries to win the first Inter-Parliamentary Cricket World Cup in London on Friday.
The four-day tournament had begun on Tuesday with lawmakers from Pakistan, England, Australia, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan taking to the field.
As many as 25 members of parliament, led by Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, son of Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, represented Pakistan in the event.
After legislators from the other participating nations failed to advance with their sporting prowess, it was down to Pakistan and Bangladesh to vie for the title.
The Bangladesh parliamentary team managed to score 104 runs at the loss of eight wickets in their overs.
Pakistan began their chase on a strong note, reaching 41-1 at the end of seven overs.
A 20-run knock from an over put the Green Shirts firmly in charge as the match proceeded. And thanks to a splendid display by Federal Minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, who put 52 runs not out on the scoreboard, Pakistan proceeded to win the final by nine wickets with eight overs to spare.
Chris Heaton-Harris, a British Member of Parliament who organised the tournament, had termed Pakistan as the favourites to lift the trophy, saying they had been in training camps for quite some time with their national coach.
The announcement of the 25-member Pakistan cricket team had drawn criticism on social media with people saying that despite austerity measures taken by the PTI government and imposition of heavy taxes on the citizens, the government was sending the parliamentarians’ cricket team to London.
The led the National Assembly Secretariat to issue a statement and say that the expenses on account of transportation to the UK, accommodation and other costs would be borne by the team members and the managerial staff.
“This decision has been taken keeping in view the ongoing austerity measures adopted by parliament and other government departments in order to lessen burden on public exchequer,” the statement had said.
Taking to Twitter, former finance minister Asad Umar congratulated the parliamentary team on their victory and reminded the nation that the lawmakers had travelled to participate in the tournament "not at taxpayers cost".
The team was selected by the Pakistan Cricket Board after an assessment on the field while playing friendly matches with cricket clubs and departmental teams in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Comments (42) Closed
Good news. Atleast we have a World Cup not from ICC but from IPC :)
Is it even considered professional level sports?
For once good news from the parliamentarians
I hope they don’t mess around here.
Are you sure it was cricket and not corruption WC
World cup of nobodies. Found it in none of other international nations paper.
Wonderful news. Good job. I hope the taxpayers didn't pay for your trip to England for you to win this award.
Well done - good to represent our country. I commend the lawmakers who did it at their own cost.
oh yes solved all key public interest issues and now on a break!
Well done and keep it up.
Good to divert the attention from the job you are paid for.
Although they went on their own cost but the 25 of them abstained themselves from the paid time of lawmaking, which is on taxpayers' money.
Our Parliamentarians can only play 'games'.
Have they ever done anything worthwhile in Parliament?
This shows how non-serious they are in their own real business - law-making.
@Sid, another hole to drain public tax money. when poor are dying the lawmakers tax the public for their luxury life.
@Majnu786, another hole to drain public tax money. when poor are dying the lawmakers tax the public for their luxury life.
@Karachi King, another hole to drain public tax money. when poor are dying the lawmakers tax the public for their luxury life.
Congratulations to Pakistan lawmakers for winning the championship, well done.
The PM could have led this team.
The economy is in mess and the parliamentarians have free time to play cricket.
My company does this from teams from other countries. It’s a little bit of fun. It doesn’t make front page news though
I hope they did not impose taxes upon Bangladesh team
Pakistan team won critical acclaim hands down. Only a disgraceful play could stop us.
Congratulation !
Wish they were equally good at their jobs as well! Majority of them don't even utter a single word in parliament during their five year term!!!
Our politicians are good at cricket and cricketers are good at politics
How much did it cost Pakistan public in direct and indirect expenses?
There is a great change in Pakistan, now people are keeping a close eye on the expenditures of PTI. I hope this continues even if the government goes to a different party in future elections and they too keep a close EYE ON PTI expenditures and USE of tax money BY PTI.
Recruit all of them in national team. Atkeast we might have managed to finals
They should quit politics and start playing cricket and let honest and hardworking folks run politics.
This speaks high about our leadership. A leader is made by sportsman spirit besides character and strength. Bravo.
This shows that sportsman spirit of our leaders is higher than all participants including Indians. Well done.
It's funny how some people manage to find so much negativity from a positive situation. We need to be more positive about our country and our people. Not all doom and gloom. Cheer up
Who was on the team? Any past professional cricketers? If your past cricketers Have become politicians (like IK), then that would explain it. In any case, it is good to hear that Pak politicians are doing better than other countries in cricket.
Finally good things happening in naya Pakistan! Should be made a national holiday!
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
"Well done and keep it up."
Keep it up what?
Lawmakers are human and these kind of trips is required to keep the stress check and generate new ideas
Well done ..... hopefully the team consisted of members of most of the political parties.
PTI parliamentarians spent 3 months on practice. They were paid salaries from tax payers money to practice for 3 months and have fun
It is a good move, at least the parliamentarians will learn some sportsmanship and hopefully exhibit it on the floor!
@Babu, sure how else do you think they managed to go on this useless junket? Wasting public money abroad. The government should recover the expenses from them all.
The other parliamentarians excel in patriotism and lawmaking but ours in plundering and looting the country
Players in politics, Politicians in play.