KARACHI: The global pandemic Covid-19 has put to rest all activities around the globe and sporting activities are no exception. However, the situation has hit a few Pakistani cricketers and tennis players really badly as they are now stranded in Sri Lanka.

A dozen Pakistan cricketers along with three tennis players who went to Sri Lanka to play in their local events are awaiting the Pakistan government’s help and a really perturbed by the current situation.

One of the cricketers, Mansoor Amjad, an international player, told this correspondent that he was lucky that he returned from Sri Lanka in the second week of March, just days before the strict measures adopted by the Sri Lanka government to control the pandemic spread.

“Players started going to Sri Lanka in December last year to feature in the first class and limited-over events. Our aim was to play at least five FC games to get eligible for work permit to get a contract to play league cricket in England. I completed this prerequisite and returned,” Mansoor Amjad said.

The Sialkot-born Amjad, 32, has played an ODI and a T20I for Pakistan in 2008. On his T20 international debut against Bangladesh in April 2008, leg-spinner Amjad took 3-3 in his only over. In June 2008, he played his solitary ODI in the Asia Cup.

Abid Hasan, 24, is also amongst the stranded first-class cricketers and said he is in touch with the High Commission of Paki­stan and hopeful of a desired outcome soon.

“My local club provided me with the accommodation but I have been bearing other expenses myself. From December till the lockdown, I had played three first class games in SL,” the Rawalpindi-born Abid told this correspondent from the outskirts of Colombo.

“I was in England but could not get a slot in any first-class outfit in Pakistan this season. Therefore I headed to Sri Lanka,” said Abid, who played 25 first-class matches for his region. “The Pakistan High Commission has acquired copies of our relevant documents and has assured us of their support,” Abid said As per the information available to this correspondent, as many as 99 Pakistanis including athletes, businessmen and tourists are stranded in Sri Lanka due to the suspension of flights operation.

Another first-class stalwart, Azhar Attari expressed the same opinion that he arrived in Sri Lanka along with his mate, another first-class cricketer Kashif Naveed, in December and is now confined due to the lockdown. “I was in the reserved pool of players announced for the newly assembled Central Punjab outfit. However, I came to Sri Lanka to feature in domestic events. I played six T20s and a one-day before departing back to Pakistan due to my mother’s demise. I returned to take part in the first-class competition here and played five matches before the unfortunate situation occurred,” the 29-year-old fast bowler, who played 76 first-class matches, informed from Columbo.

Meanwhile upon enquiry, an email from the Pakistan High Commissioner office sai­d that all possible measures were being taken to ensure the welfare of all Pakistanis by providing them food and accommodation. “The High Commission is closely coordinating with the authorities in Pakistan and Sri Lan­ka for the early repatriation of all Paki­stani nationals and hopefully, they will be sent back to Pakistan very soon,” the email read.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2020