KARACHI - Dollar East Royal Cricket Club Monday night honored Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for their outstanding performances against Australia and New Zealand in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Batsman Asad Shafiq, off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and Kamran Akmal were also honored and were presented cash awards for their meritorious contribution to Pakistan cricket.
Speaking at the occasion, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, who was chief guest at the ceremony, complimented Dollar East Royal Cricket Club for honoring the national heroes and patronizing and promoting cricket at the club and domestic level. He lauded former HBL wicketkeeper/batsman Zaheer Ahmed for launching Dollar East team at PCB domestic circuit and creating job opportunities for the talented cricketers.
He said he was impressed the way function was arranged and Pakistan cricketers and Dollar East players were presented cash awards to their team members. He said PCB was making efforts to improve domestic cricket and prepare good cricketers for the future.
Head of Dollar East Sports Zaheer Ahmed, who played alongside great cricketers like former captain Javed Miandad, Mohsin Khan and Abdul Qadir, gave his suggestions for the improvement of Pakistan cricket and to finalize best Pakistan cricket team for World Cup. He called upon the PCB to listen to honest and dedicated peoples in the board.
He recalled that they have honored Pakistan sports legends Jahangir Khan, former Pakistan cricket captains Hanif Muhammad, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad Olympians Islahuddin Siddiqui, Hasan Sardar, IBSF World Snooker Champion M Asif and others for bringing honor and glory to Pakistan.
Dollar East chief executive Asmatullah Butt said being a corporate sector, they were promoting and sponsoring sports with focus on cricket. Manager of the team Zubair Ahmed Shaikh said their team enjoyed good year winning 46 of their 60 matches, losing 14 and they won Haji Zaman Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament, Bob Woolmer Ramzan Trophy and FC Cup Night Cricket Tournament.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saeed Ajmal, Arif Habib Group chairman Arif Habib, KCCA Prof Ejaz Faruqui presented the awards to the players. Zaheer also presented the mementos to Shaharyar Khan, Prof Faruqui, Nadeem Omar, Arif Habib, Yasin Tejani and Yasin Fecto.
Awards also presented to senior sports journalists Rishad Mahmood and Ehsan Qureshi. Those who got awards included Ejaz Ali Shah (best batsman), Amjad Manzoor (best bowler), Taha Mamsa (best all-rounder), Furqan Khalil (best wicketkeeper) and Umar Imtiaz (best fielder) for their outstanding performances during 2014 for Dollar East Royal CC.
All 14 members of Dollar East Royal CC team were presented a total Rs 140,000 for recently winning the All Karachi Zaman Memorial T20 Cricket Tournament. Award ceremony was also attended by KCCA secretary Shafiq Kazmi, Test opener Khurram Manzoor, former Test cricketers Liaquat Ali, Anwar Khan, Qasier Abbas, former and current first class cricketers, KCCA officials, cricket and sports organisers.