By Sohail Ali
LAHORE:The Sports Board Punjab (SBP) and Lahore Qalandars have joined hands to trace and nurture female talented cricket players under a joint Women Talent Hunt Programme.
In this regard, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony was held here at National Hockey Stadium on Friday. Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Taimoor Masood was the chief guest on this occasion. SBP Director General Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lahore Qalandars Atif Rana, former Test fast bowler Aaqib Javed, Director Admin Syed Umair Hassan, CEO Bank of Punjab Zafar Masood and other officials were also present.
The DG SBP and the CEO Lahore Qalandars signed the MoU and exchanged documents.
CEO Bank of Punjab (BoP) Zafar Masood also presented a souvenir to Provincial Sports Minister Malik Taimur Masood.
Punjab Sports Minister said the MoU would prove to be a revolutionary step for growth of cricket among young girls of the country. “There is plenty of cricket potential among Pakistani women. They just need a suitable platform and proper opportunity to showcase their talent,” he added.
He said that there were over 500 sports facilities across the province. “Lahore Qalandars are doing wonderful work for tracing fresh cricket talent. Women cricket players will be trained under this MoU taking benefit from Lahore Qalandars expertise”.
Malik Taimoor Masood said that Sports Board Punjab (SBP) and Lahore Qalandars will make joint efforts for unearthing talented female cricket players. “Sports Board Punjab will launch its first ever cricket academy in near future. This academy will play a key role in the promotion of cricket among females of the province”.
Director General Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi on this occasion said that after signing this MoU, a suitable platform has been provided to female players. Now it is upto them to prove their mettle. “Sports Board Punjab is going to launch a cricket academy next month. We are also collaborating with PCB Central Punjab Cricket Association for the promotion of cricket”.
He informed that there are 69 cricket grounds in the province. “These grounds will also be used for the practice of academy players. SBP is taking effective measures for finding fresh talent in different sports,” he added.
CEO Lahore Qalandars Atif Rana thanked Punjab Minister for Sports and Director General Sports Punjab for signing this historic MoU.
He said that Sports Board Punjab (SBP) and Lahore Qalandars will collaborate for finding young talented female cricket players. “Our Women Players Development Programme is also working quite effectively for this cause,” he added.
Atif Rana informed that the trials of women cricket players will be held at Lahore Qalandars High Performance Centre on October 18 and at Kinnaird College on 19. “An exhibition women’s cricket match will also be played between BoP XI and Lahore Qalandars XI on Oct 26”.
Former Test fast bowler Aaqib Javed on this occasion said that Pakistan women have the best cricket talent but they don’t get sufficient opportunities to express their potential. “Women should also get the same opportunity as men in sports”.
Aqib Javed further said that Sports Board Punjab and Lahore Qalandars will bring good cricket players from this platform. “We should also make efforts to remove different kinds of problems faced by women players,” he added.
CEO Bank of Punjab (BOP) Zafar Masood on this occasion said that no country or society can develop without the participation of women. “Bank of Punjab will award prizes to women who will offer excellent performance in cricket matches”.
He said: “I am grateful to Provincial Sports Minister Malik Taimur Masood and DG Sports Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi for this great initiative. Bank of Punjab will continue to play its role for the promotion of sports”.