ISLAMABAD - Islamabad Cricket Association North Zone secretary Shabbir Ahmed Saturday described Islamabad Region president Shakil Sheikh saviour of Islamabad cricket and man solely responsible for helping region to have so many international standard cricket grounds, where not only trophy matches are held regularly but also Diamond ground has the honour of hosting Afghanistan in a T20 match.
Shabbir said in the past only two grounds in shabby conditions were available for the players in the capital and those grounds also disappeared when new road was constructed. He said it was the tireless efforts of Shakil, the region had such beautiful stadiums and the players of Islamabad as well as Rawalpindi region got due recognition and started to represent at much higher level.
“I am also the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sports Committee member and working actively for the promotion of Disabled Sports as well. We had managed number of international events for the handicapped cricketers in the past and now presently leaving to India with PDSA chairman Sheikh Abdul Waheed to meet with All-India Physically Challenged Cricket Association president Ajit Wadekhar and secretary Manjrekhar and I am quite hopeful we would take the lead in restoring Pak-India bilateral cricketing ties first at disabled.”
Shabbir, who has also played first class cricket as a captain and involved with Islamabad Cricket association for more than a decade, specially thanked Nasir Iqbal, Rauf Mirza, Irfan Manzoor and Shakil Sheikh for their unconditional support and guidance and said without their support and cooperation it would not had been possible for him to play such active role in helping Islamabad players to groom and shine on the national horizon. Shabbir said he wanted to start national youth and women cricket academies and these academies were in final stages and would start at National Cricket Ground, which would be inaugurated by Shakil Sheikh.