Zaheer says he backs Karachi cricketers (28 Aug 1997)

28 August 1997

Zaheer says he backs Karachi cricketers

By Our Sports Reporter

KARACHI, Aug 27: The prize distribution ceremony of the Seventh Hinopak Trophy Inter-Firm cricket tournament, was held on Wednesday evening at a local hotel.

Hasan Irshad, was the chief guest and former Pakistan skipper Zaheer Abbas, the Guest of Honour.

Speaking on the occasion, S. Sirajul Bukhari, Honorary Secretary, Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA),lauded the achievements of Hinopak in promoting sports in the city.

His speech was followed by Munir Hussain, Vice-President KCCA, who said that although two cricket books were written in English by Zaheer Abbas and Imran Khan respectiverly, not a single book on cricket was written about the game in Urdu, which is indeed a sad story to relate. Zaheer Abbas, told the large gathering that Mr. Bukhari always complained that the lads from Karachi were not getting a fair deal where selection in the Test and one-day teams were concerned. Then sporting a smile, the former Pakistan skipper said that since he was nominated as a selector, he consulted Mr. Bukhari whenever finalising a team. Zaheer said he always supported the cause of cricketers from Karachi.

"But then again", he said, "a cricketer getting a chance to represent his country had to try his best to make a good impression on his first outing". He went on to add that it did not mean if a cricketer did well in his first appearance he would keep his place in the side. That cricketer would have to continue to perform well. Zaheer gave the example of Mohammad Wasim, who made a century against New Zealand on his debut at Lahore in November 1976, after making a duck in the first innings.

Hasan Irshad, Managing Director Hinopak Motors, said it gave him great pleasure in congratulating the KESC cricket team for winning the 7th Hinopak Trophy. He said the victory was all the more commendable because KESC annexed the trophy for the second consecutive year not to mention the Golden Jubilee cricket tournament organised by KCCA. Masoor Khan, skipper received the winning trophy, while the skipper of Interglobe had to be content with the runners-up trophy.

Also present at the prize distribution ceremony were the KCCA President Nusrat Azeem, Mian Azmat Hussain, Vice-President KCCA, Irfan Shaikh, and Tauseef Siddiqui.

Source:: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)