Symbol of Disability Cricket in Lahore: Javed Ashraf (Second and Last Part)

“I can’t put into words the radiance and joy I felt on their faces during my visit to the National Cricket Academy. Javed Ashraf, who made the most difficult decision in the field of cricket in a few seconds, kept on talking enthusiastically. “I don’t have the words to describe my condition at the time. It was the first time in my life that I had done anything so great for people with a physical disability that I am so happy today. I still feel it in my heart the richness of these moments in my soul. When our disabled cricketers were training at the National Cricket Academy, the Pakistan cricket team was also engaged in training. These players had seen the cricketers of the Pakistan cricket team so closely for the first time. The disabled cricketers were given a lot of encouragement in this training session and were also given batting and bowling tips. The disabled cricketers who participated in this training session, it is one of the best memories of their life.

When I joined the Pakistan Disability Cricket Association, I had in mind to serve people with physical disabilities and players wholeheartedly. Javed Ashraf, who draws personal experience from the ups and downs of cricket, said while looking into the past. “I remember when the disabled cricketers started their practice at the National Cricket Academy; the players of the Pakistan team left their practice and came to watch their game. They especially watched the game of Farhan and Matloob and were amazed. He said that a bowler can also bowl like this. He had given him full encouragement. I have heard Pakistani cricketers say that I am also very encouraged by the determination of these players and also the lesson that in the field of life not to give up and never leave the field. These words and the whole scenario are still fresh in my mind and I keep recounting these incidents often to raise the morale of my players and the team.

The Pakistan Disability Cricket Team has also got many talented and promising cricketers from Lahore in which Abdullah Ijaz, Hasnain Alam and Ashfaq Shakir have represented Pakistan. Javed Ashraf kept telling. “They include the best all-rounders and also the players who have scored the first century of disability cricket. Ashfaq Shakir is currently the captain of the Lahore team and the best disabled fielder of Pakistan. Dozens of players from Lahore have played national cricket since the inception of Disability Cricket. I keep looking for players all the time. Recently I found a fast bowler who is being groomed. I hope he is Pakistan Disability Cricket Team. Proves to be an asset of the team. In the beginning there were difficulties in finding disabled players but now it is the other way around. Since PPDCA’s social media has become active now players themselves contact us and tell about themselves and they keep asking for trials, so the players keep coming and going. ”

“The future of Pakistan Physical Disability Cricket is very bright. After the successful organization of the National T20 Cricket Championship, players across the country are now eagerly awaiting the next event.” Javed Ashraf once again said. It is the sincere efforts of the PPDCA and the friendly and equal relationship with the disabled cricketers that is remembered in the prayers of Saleem Karim and Amiruddin Ansari for the disabled cricketers. It is because of these prayers that PPDCA is on the path of development, and this is because from day one, the first priority of PPDCA has been disabled cricketers, while in other organizations and sports associations. It is not. When I see these disabled cricketers playing happily on good grounds, I feel like they are my own children and I feel their joy as a father, these are the feelings that they give me real happiness. I pray that this journey of PPDCA will continue successfully, people who have become the hallmark of disability cricket not only in Pakistan but all over the world are familiar with the new milestones of Successes.