ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Joint Services cricket team entered the semi-finals of the International Defence Cricket Challenge Cup 2012, currently underway in Canberra Australia, defeating Royal New Zealand Air Force team in the last pool match.
Pakistan will meet Canberra in the semi-finals of the tournament. Pakistan team remained unbeaten in the pool matches of the tournament beside beating Royal Australian Navy by 10 wickets in a warm up match. They beat Malaysia, Australia, ANZAC Barbarians, Australia and New Zealand Army XI, New Zealand Army, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Army in the pool matches. Pakistan won the last pool match by 137 runs against New Zealand.
Pakistan's Joint Services team comprising of tri services which is being led by Major Babar Nawaz. Pakistani players made 3 centuries out of a total of four in the entire tournament. Fakhar Zaman top scored with 251 runs in 4 innings while Naser Iqbal is the top wicket getter with 15 wickets.
The central theme of the tournament is Defence unity through cricket. The tournament is held after every two years for world defence teams in a sporting and cultural exchange. A total of eight teams from Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand are participating in the tournament,