KARACHI: Pakistan cricket stars Sarfraz Ahmed and Anwar Ali were given cash awards of Rs500,000 apiece for outstanding performances in recent months at a reception here at the Lawai Stadium in the Naya Nazimabad on Saturday evening.

Both of them, who play for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) whenever they are available from international duties, were honoured during the ceremony which was jointly organised by PIA management and Naya Nazimabad.

Playing glowing tribute to Sarfraz, who is Pakistan’s ODI and T20 vice-captain, and Anwar, PIA chairman Nasser N.S. Jaffer and Arif Habib, chairman of Arif Habib Group who is also a member on PIA’s board of directors said both cricket heroes had done the country proud by excelling as true professionals on the cricket field.

They hope both young guns of Pakistan cricket will continue to performance brilliantly in the future since they are an asset for the nation.

The PIA chairman pledged to support sportspeople in their endeavour to achieve glory.

Anwar Ali, who scored a sensational 46 from mere 17 balls as Pakistan sealed a dramatic one-wicket victory in series-clinching the second Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka in Colombo just over a week ago, was presented with a letter of promotion by his employers

The glittering function was also graced by legendary Test spinner and former chief selector Iqbal Qasim, ex-Test all-rounder Ijaz Faqih, former Test batsman and PIA’s deputy general manager sports Shoaib Mohammad, president of Summit Bank Hussain Lawai, chief executive of Naya Nazimabad Samad Habib, Naya Nazimabad’s director sports Mohammad Iqbal, Ground in-charge Azhar Iqbal, Pakistan Cricket Club secretary Azam Khan and Mohammad Nizam among others.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2015

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