PDCA complete 2-day Lahore visit

LAHORE: & Since the formation of the disabled cricket team we have progressed beyond imagination and foreign tours are a huge step forward for us and now we can show the world that being disabled is no obstacle, & this is stated by Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA)’s President Salim Karim at Lahore’s Bagh-i-Jinnah court where, on the behalf of the Association, gold medal was presented to Tennis Super Star Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi for his thrilling performance in US Open at New York.

PDCA completed two-day visit of Lahore and the delegation was also comprised of PDCA Secretary Amir Uddin Ansari and former Pakistani first-class cricketer Syed Mahboob Ali Shah, PDCA Director of international affairs who also umpired 28 Test matches and 32 ODIs between March 1975 and March 1997 inluding 1987 World Cup Final at Kolkata. Others were former International Umpire Rab Nawaz, First Class cricketer Tanveer Ali, PDCA team Vice captain Major Hasnain Alam, First class umpire Javed Ashraf. Polio withered Salim Karim’s right leg when he was a child and a motorbike accident in his teens seriously damaged his left but though he can barely walk, he is the driving force behind disabled cricket in Pakistan. Karim set up a team for physically impaired people with two friends in 2006 and they now run the pioneering PDCA. During visit, PDCA also met Intikhab Alam, Director National Cricket Academy and briefed him three-years contribution of the body. Inti congratulated the way Pakistani disabled cricket team played matches in South East Asia, becoming the country’s first physically challenged cricketers to embarked abroad.

& Myself appreciated the role of PDCA in organising such healthy activities which will not only create awareness amongst the general public for special people but also bring a good name for body, & added Intikhab, only coach in the world to win World Cups of ODI and Twenty20. & I started this mission with a vision to make all physically impaired people realise that they can live a life without any worries and I am happy that the cause has been served, & told Karim, a businessman who funds all the team’s expenses from his own pocket. & The determination to overcome their physical impediments is a common theme amongst the teammates and they play an important role in a country where health facilities and opportunities for disabled people are rudimentary at best.& Salim said they have also received good response from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC).& Disabled cricketers got a new ray of life on 12 June 2010 when PCB recognized us, & said Salim who added that they had also discussion with PCB’s higher authorities where various matters were finalized and PDCA also monitored Lahore Disabled team and gave presentation about such type of cricket in International Human Resource Management Conference held under Nutshell at local hotel.