ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: Defending champions Pakistan on Saturday named a 17-member team plus six officials for the 3rd cricket World Cup for the Blind to be played in the Pakistan capital from December 3 to 16.The Chairman of Pakistan Blind Cricket Council, Agha Shaukat Ali, and Programme Director of the upcoming event, Syed Sultan Shah, released the names which were finalised by chairman selection committee-cum-coach, Nafees Ahmed.

The selected players are: Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Shehbaz, Anwar Ali, Amir Ishfaq, Noor Quresh, Muhammad Waseem Khan (B1, totally blind), Abdul Razzaq (captain), Masood Jan, Zeeshan Abbasi, Muhammad Irfan, Muzafar Ali (Muhammad Fayaz (Vice Captain), Syed Adnan Ahmad, Shariq Yaseen, Muhammad Akram, Tahir Ali (wicketkeeper), Tariq Samuel (B2, partially blind).

The officials appointed with the team are Mrs. Perveen Aftab Alam Khan (Manager), Khalid Mehmood Malik (Assistant Manager), Nafees Ahmed (Coach), Muhammad Dawood (Assistant Coach), Tariq Mehmood (Physio) and Muhammad Jamil (Trainer).

Also present at the press conference were representatives of sponsors Jang Group, Nadeem Iqbal and Hassan Minto.The opening ceremony of 3rd cricket World Cup for the Blind will be held at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, on December 3.

The eight participating teams include hosts Pakistan, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and West Indies.—APP