Pakistan’s most successful captain Misbah-ul-Haq will be the main attraction in the Qatar National Day Twenty20 cricket series between Asian Stars and Qatar Stars on December 15, 17 and 18, organisers announced yesterday.
The former Pakistan captain, who has retired from cricket, is hugely popular in the subcontinent. And with Asian expats residing in large numbers in Qatar, Misbah’s presence for the series to mark the Qatar National Day, is a sure-shot crowd puller.
The exhibition matches will be held at the 13,000-capacity Asian Town Cricket Stadium in the Industrial Area. The event is being organised by Ibn Ajayan Project (IAP) in association with Pro Events and Organising Committee of Associated Activities of Qatar National Day 2017 celebrations under the patronage of Ministry of Interior to celebrate the Qatar National Day.
Misbah, who led Pakistan to the No: 1 spot in international Test rankings in 2016, has played 75 Tests, 162 ODIs and 39 T20Is. He also recorded a 56-ball hundred against Australia in 2014 – then the joint fastest hundred in Tests, sharing the record with West Indies great Viv Richards.
Misbah will be joined by present and past cricketers for the T20 series, with mostly his Pakistani counterparts making up the numbers.
Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam, Umar Gul, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Sami Aslam are the Pakistanis lined up for the Asian Stars. Players from other countries will also figure in the matches. Indians Waseef Jafar and S. Badrinath, Sri Lankans Tillekratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernado and Bangladesh’s Elias Sunny, Arafat Sunny and Inam ul Haq are the others who have confirmed their participation.
Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will be the coach and Amir Sohail will be the manager of the Asian Stars.
Qatar Stars will be represented by Iqbal (captain), Kamran Khan, Tamoor Sajjad, Rizlan Iqbar (W-K), Zaheer Ibrahim, Inam ul Haq, Nadeem Aslam, Imran Asharaf, Faisal Khan, Mohamed Tanveer, Nouman Sarwar, Aslim Ali, Aqib Javed, Awais Malik, Khurram Shehazad, Ushantha Madushanka, Ikramullah Khan and Mohamed Murad.
CEO of Pro Events Sajjad Hussain Choudhry, who has played an active role in bringing the cricketers to Qatar since last three years, said he is trying his best to promote and popularise the game in the country. These three matches to mark the big day is yet another effort in that direction.
“We are celebrating Qatar National Day for the third consecutive year and this year we are organising three matches to mark the occasion,” Choudhry said, while addressing a press conference yesterday.
“We have also decided to charge for the only first two matches and entry is free for the Qatar National Day match,” he said.
“This year the National Day celebration tournament is something special for us, as we see it as an opportunity showcase our love and respect for this country. We are bringing world cricketers from around the world for the occasion and decided to charge for the only first two matches and entry is free for the National Day match,” he said.
Others who were present on the occasion were Public Relation Officer Ministry of Interior Lt. Mohamed Ali al-Muraizeeq, Community Reach Out Coordinator MOI Faisal al-Hudawi, Ibn Ajayan Projects’ Salem al-Fuhaid and Qatar Cricket Association’s Manzoor Ahmed.
Matches on the first two days will start at 5.30pm, while on the Qatar National Day the match will commence at around 3.00pm. Tickets are available at Indian Super Market, Filli café, Today’s Fashion and Asian Town Cricket Stadium Gate Number 1.
