M IRTAZA
MULTAN
A friendly cricket match between Multan Tigers and Pakistan XI helped to collect about Rs 20 million funds for the internally displaced people (IDPs) of North Wazirastan Agency.
Pakistan XI won the toss and elected to bat first in a Twenty20 match played at almost jam-packed picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday night after a period of eight years which not only provided a great festivity to Multanities but also raised a handsome amount for IDPs.
Batting first, Pakistan XI made 195 runs in 20 overs for the loss of five wickets. Faisal Iqbal and Sami Aslam were top scorers as they contributed 47 runs each to set a target of 196. M Rameez of Multan Tigers grabbed two wickets while Amir Yamin, Kumail Abbas and Hafiz Habib Ullah took one wicket each.
In reply, Multan Tigers scored 180 runs losing six wickets in the allotted overs. Babar Ali was the top scorer with 35 runs while Zeshan Ashraf made 27, Gulraiz 27 and Zeshan Ali 22. Karamat Ali of Pakistan XI grabbed four wickets while Atta Ullah took two. Former Pakistani captain Inzamam-Ul-Haq was given LBW on the first ball. Multan Tigers were led by Inzamam-Ul-Haq while national cricketer Faisal Iqbal was the captain of Pakistan XI.
On this occasion, Faisal Movers (Dream Gardens) gave a cheque for Rs 2 million, another cheque for Rs 200,000 was given on behalf of Inzamam while special persons gave a cheque for Rs 100,000 for the Chief Minister relief fund for IDPs. Provincial Law and Sports Minister Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan distributed trophies between the winner and runner-up teams. Provincial Minister for Prisons Chaudhry Abdul Waheed Arrain, PML-N MNA Abdul Ghafar Dogar, former MNAs Sheikh Tariq Rasheed and Rana Mehmood-Ul-Hassan, MPA Ahsan Uddin Qureshi, DCO Zahid Saleem Gondal, CPO Multan Sultan Ahmed Chaudhry and other officials also attended the match.