India’s cricket World Cup winning teams of 1983 and 2011 have been invited to attend the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Indian news outlets reported yesterday.
The invitation was extended to the teams by Nasser al-Khater, the CEO of the newly-established FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, a company responsible for the planning and delivery of operations and services for the tournament.
Al-Khater, who was in India to attend a sports awards function in Mumbai, said: “It is safe to say that this World Cup (in Qatar in 2022) is for all of us to celebrate. I think I have to say, we look forward to welcoming you there (in Qatar),” he said.
“I know that there are some members from the 1983 World Cup winning team, that beat the West Indies, are here (at the awards function), and there are members from the team that won the (cricket) World Cup in 2011. I extend you a special invitation to come and attend the football world cup in Qatar,” he added.
He also extended a special welcome to footballers from India.
Kapil Dev led India to victory in the 1983 World Cup, while the captain of the team which won the 2011 honours was Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
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