KARACHI: The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) hosted a reception ceremony to honour Pakistan blind cricket legends Mohammad Ashraf Bhatti and Mohammad Fayyaz for their brilliant performances in 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

Ashraf Bhatti displayed match-winning performance in the World Cup 2002 by scoring an unbeaten 88 runs while he also bagged Best Player of the World Cup along with Player of the Final awards. Pakistan defeated host India in the final in Chennai.

Ashraf has played 38 One-day international matches for Pakistan at a fantastic average of 101.

The other legendary player Mohammad Fayyaz scored 78 on his debut match against India in 2002 World Cup. He also scored three centuries and two half-centuries in a five-match series against India in 2004. Fayyaz has played 38 matches for Pakistan with an average of 73.39.

On the occasion, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani emphasised that sports persons play pivotal role in promoting the soft image of the country.

“Persons without sight have been making their presence felt in education, IT and they have now been doing well in the sports arena. Pakistan’s blind cricketers have won several laurels for the country which is highly commendable,” he said.

On the occasion, PBCC Chairperson Syed Sultan Shah, Commander PAF Faisal Base Air Commodore Aftab Alam, OC Admin Wing Commander Ghazanfar Ali, Head CSR NBP Iqbal Wahid, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Media Advisor Asif Azeem and others were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, Shalwani presented Rs200,000 each to Ashraf and Fayyaz on behalf of PBCC.

Shalwani praised Sultan Shah and his team for the success of Pakistan blind cricket. He further said that, blind cricketers have brought a good name to the country therefore they will be honoured by naming a road or bridge after a blind cricketer.

Sultan Shah, in his speech, also praised Shalwani for taking keen interest in sports. He added that new players must follow in the footsteps of legends like Ashraf and Fayyaz so that one day they could register their names besides these legends.

Sultan also thanked PPL, PAF, NBP and Murtaza Hashwani of Pearl Continental Hotel for patronizing blind cricket in the country.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2020