The Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Co-ordination has recommended Speaker National Assembly and Chairman Senate to host a reception for Pakistan cricket team in the Parliament for winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The committee met with Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan in the chair at Parliament House on Tuesday.
The committee chairman and members unanimously agreed to propose chairman Senate and speaker National Assembly to host a reception in the honour of the victorious Pakistan team and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) members. The committee congratulated the whole nation on winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. He said the whole nation and political parties are proud of the cricket team.
Committee Chairman Mushahid Ullah said, "National team's win in Champions Trophy is a gift for Eid to the whole Pakistani nation. Pakistan cricket team has given great news to the nation to cheer for." He said that skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and pacer Muhammad Amir played tremendous role in an excellent victory in the CT semi-final against England. He appreciated the performance of young players of the team. He said that Junaid Khan, Hasan Ali, Babar Azam and Shadab Khan have shown superb performances in the event.
He also praised PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan, Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chairman Najam Sethi and Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq for bringing in and giving youngsters a chance to prove their mettle. Mushahid Ullah said that Pakistan's victory has stunned the critics and the national team has proved that it can upset any team on the day.
Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Co-ordination (IPC) Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada credited PCB management and team for the victory. He said Pakistan team's head coach Mickey Arthur believes that Pakistan young leg spinner Shadab Khan is like legendary Australian leggie Shane Warne and hence has a bright future ahead.
He said it is a big achievement to promote the talent through Pakistan Super League. He said that national games promote with promotion of regional games. He said that the country's armed forces had played a key role in revival of international sports activities in the country. He underlined the need for holding sports festivals at village and town levels, saying this would help unearth the talent from the rural areas.
Referring to the question asked by Senator Ch Tanvir Khan in a sitting of the Senate with regard to PCB's expenditures of last five years, he said that the panel would discuss this in its next meeting. Senator Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan Musakhel, Senator Saud Majeed, Senator Liaqat Khan Tarakai and PCB officials were present on the occasion.