KARACHI, April 23: In an unprecedented gesture of goodwill, the management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) decided on Wednesday to reward its cricket team, led by former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, with promotions here on Wednesday.

Chairman of PIA, Chaudhry Ahmed Saeed, made the announcement at a special ceremony in honour of the department team which completed a grand double in the just concluded domestic cricket season.

Speaking on the occasion, the PIA chief paid glowing tributes to Moin Khan and his young team for their outstanding performance and hoped that the team will continue to win more laurels for the organisation.

PIA first clinched the prestigious first-class competition, the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, and then went on to lift the NBP One-day Patron’s Cup. In an unforgettable season PIA remained undefeated throughout and also created a new national record by romping to five successive innings victories.

The PIA sports department, headed by Col Mudassar Asghar, inducted a number of newcomers last year in place of seasoned campaigners like Yousuf Youhana, Azhar Mahmood and Abdul Razzaq, who were usually unavailable because of national duty.

Among players to be promoted are Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Hameed, Bazid Khan, Shoaib Malik, Fazle Akbar, Kamran Sajid, Umar Gul, Ahmed Zeeshan Malik and Aizaz bin Ilyas Cheema. All of them will get Group Six contracts.

Of the rest, Moin is being given a promotion after 10 years in the organisation to Group Seven regular. There are several other players and team officials who are also expected to be promoted to the next grade.

Moin presented an autographed bat, signed by the team, to the PIA chairman.

Col Mudassar apprised the chairman of the efforts being made by his department to uplift sports at national level.

The ceremony was also attended by Khurshid Anwar, PIA’s CEO, and Director Administration Farooq Shah.