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Cricket diplomacy: The cricket tournament was designed to empower girls and provide them with an opportunity to learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship and to expand their horizons
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ISLAMABAD – SOS School Islamabad beat Mashal Model School in the final of a two-day Girls’ Cricket Cup held here in Marghazar Cricket Ground Islamabad.
The girl students of four underprivileged schools Pakistan Sweet Homes (PSH), Mashal Charity School (MCS), SOS Schools and students of Special Education schools (girls with hearing impairment) participated in the event. Shabnam from SOS School won player of the tournament and player of the final match awards.
The girls attended a week-long coaching camp conducted by PCB coaches and first class Pakistani female cricketers. A round-robin competition was held on 30 April and semi-finals and the final on 1 May.
The Australian High Commission (AHC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with the support of Serena Hotels hosted the inaugural girls’ cup.
Australian High Commissioner Margaret Adamson said the initiative was designed to empower girls and provide them with an opportunity to learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship and to expand their horizons.
“Cricket in Pakistan and Australia is a shared passion for boys and girls, men and women, and provides a wonderful vehicle for promoting and highlighting the importance of gender equality in sport and beyond,” Ms. Adamson said.
“We are delighted to see such a positive response and look forward to making this an annual event with the support of the PCB and Serena Hotels including more schools, potentially from different regions of Pakistan,” she said.
Mr. Aziz Boolani, CEO Serena Hotels said: “Our commitments to gender empowerment through sports initiatives found expression in the PCB-AHC Girls’ Cricket Cup as we truly believe that sports are a means to encourage healthy lifestyles, peace, tolerance and teamwork.”
Serena Hotels’ Sports Diplomacy Initiative continues to encourage sports as a way to provide opportunities to encourage cohesive bonds amongst different segments of society. Serena Hotels hold various events annually including Golf, Tennis, Polo, Football, Cricket and squash.
The PSH Patron-in-Chief, Zammurd Khan, also spoke at the closing ceremony. He said that the Pakistan Sweet Homes was currently hosting 3,000 children across the country.
Photo courtesy: Australia in Pakistan facebook page
