Cricketers turn golfers to raise quake funds
Led by vice-captain Marcus Trescothick, the England cricketers raised Rs3 million (US$50,000) after playing a ‘golf for life’ contest at the Royal Palm Beach course.
“It was fantastic to play golf for a noble cause and since we arrived here after the tragic event we have tried our best to contribute,” said Trescothick.
Pakistan’s massive Oct 8 earthquake, measured at 7.6 on the Richter scale, left over 80,000 people dead and made over three million people homeless.
The England team had donated Rs10 million (100,000 pounds) after visiting the injured at an Islamabad hospital soon after their arrival in late October.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer and former Pakistan captains Zaheer Abbas, Aamir Sohail and Salim Malik also featured in the exhibition match.
Lahore Club golf director Jeremy Frankel said the shirts signed by England and Pakistan cricketers would be auctioned next week to raise more funds.
“When we invited the England team their manager Phil Neale appreciated the idea and instantly gave his approval,” said Frankel, an Englishman.—AFP
Our Sports Correspondent adds: The tournament was an 18-hole team competition and a team comprising Darren, Shahid Abbas, Faisal Iqbal and H M Yousuf won it with an aggregate of 136.
The team consisting of Andy Allman, Faisul Nigel, Rana Noon and Nasir Mehmood grabbed the second place by scoring 138, while another team comprising James Anderson, Matthew Hoggard, Ramzan Sheikh and Shahid Iqbal made it to the third place.
In some other events, Asif Bashir won the longest drive on hole number seven with a drive of 331 yards. James Anderson hit the longest drive on hole number 14 to a distance of 317 yards.
Geraint Jones, Saleem Yosuf and H M Yosuf won the nearest to the pin on three holes event.
Among other prominent cricketers who took part in such events were; former Pakistani Test cricketers Zaheer Abbas, Shafqat Rana, Aamir Sohail, Salim Malik and Akram Raza.