The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Majid Khan announced that during launching ceremony of the Pakistan Golden Jubilee cricket season in a local hotel on Wednesday night.
Major programme of the cricket season is being sponsored by Pakistan Tobacco Company. That includes the National Cricket Tournament of one-day matches to be held through out the country in March, 1998. Majid Khan said that Pakistan is held in highesteemin the foreign world because of players. So, their services must be duly recognised on this auspicious occasion.
``Our team has earned so much goodwill that from Hong Kong to Canada, foreign countries were showing keenness to host cricket matches between the Pakistani and Indian teams. It is all the more heart-warming because the traditional rivals are the English and Australian sides'', said Majid Khan smilingly.
The PCB chief executive said that a hectic cricket season lay ahead. Test series and international one-day matches were being organised to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. He said that the season would begin from Sept 24 with the visit of the Indian team, which would arrive along with the Pakistan side from Canada to play a series of three one-day international matches.The South Africa, West Indies and the world champion Sri Lanka teams would also visit Pakistan. They would compete in the Quadrangular Golden Jubilee Floodlit Cricket Tournament to be held at the Qadhafi Stadium from Nov 1 to 8. The South Africa and the West Indies teams would also play series of three Tests, each. Majid Khan said that the Pakistan Golden Jubilee cricket competitions would be beamed live on television to many parts of the world. He said that on this unique occasion, the cricketers, organisers,lovers of the game and spectators should display examplary behaviour which could enhance nation's prestige in the eyes of foreign world.
``Spirit of every Pakistani should be that he should resolve that in the next 50 years, he should keep asking himself what he is giving to Pakistan rather than thinking all the time whathe has been getting from Pakistan,'' said Majid Khan in an emotional tone. He thanked the sponsoring company for extending cooperation to the PCB in organising and promoting cricket in Pakistan.
The former Supreme Court chief justice and BCCP presidentMr Justice Nasim Hassan Shah, in his address said thatimpartiality and selection on merit were essential to create healthy atmosphere in cricket. The sponsoring firm (PTC) marketing manager Salman Khansaid that a cash prize of $ 15,000 would be given to the winning team of the Quadrangular Tournament and $ 10,000 to the runner-up side. Similarly, the prize-money for the ``Man-of-the-Math'' for every one-day international game has been raised to Rs 25,000 and for each Test to Rs 40,000. Prominent among those who attended the function were the former BCCP presidents Lt.-Gen. (retd.) K. M. Azhar,Lt.-Gen. (retd.) Zahid Ali Akbar and Mr Justice (retd.) Nasim Hassan Shah, PCB secretary Waqar Ahmad, national umpires, scorers, mediamen and other elite of the city.