The Consulate General of Pakistan, Manchester and members of the Pakistani community hosted a reception dinner in the honour of the Pakistani Cricket Team in Manchester.


The national team is in Manchester to play the second Investec Test Match against England at Emirates Old Trafford today.

The event was hosted at the Sheridan Suite.

The reception was attended by the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Carl Austin-Behan, the Mayor of Rochdale, Faisal Rashid Mayor of Warrington, MP Yasmin Qureshi, MEP Afzal Khan, High Sheriff of Wigan, Lady and Lord Smith, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Ian Hopkins, Chairman Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Amjad Malik, Chief inspector Umer Khan and a large number of members British Pakistani communities and cricket fans. 

Welcoming the team, the Consul General, Zahoor Ahmed called them the national heroes of Pakistan and appreciated the superb performance of the team at the Lords cricket ground which has made every Pakistani proud. 

He said that the Pakistani cricket team has shown a true team spirit and through their excellence in sports has brought out a positive image of Pakistan.

Asian Image:

Consul General Zahoor Ahmed congratulated the team on behalf of the Consulate and the Community on their historic performance at Lord’s test match and wished them best of luck for the upcoming matches.

He also presented a memento shield to the Cricket team which was received by Captain Misbah Ul Haq.

A short film on the annual Pakistan parade Manchester and a documentary on the history of Cricket in Pakistan were screened.

Asian Image:

Speaking on the occasion, the Lord Mayor of Manchester appreciated the contribution of the British Pakistani community to the British society.

He said that cricket is an important link between the two countries and the Pakistani cricket team’s visit to Manchester would further enhance these linkages.

Speaking on behalf of the team, the Manager of the Pakistani cricket team, Intikhab Alam highlighted the absence of international cricket from Pakistan and said that it is high time that inter of national teams should pay visit to Pakistan as we have achieved great success in the war against terror and Pakistan is a safe country to play cricket now.

Asian Image:  
On this occasion, leading businessmen from greater Manchester announced a cash prize of £10,000 on either getting five wickets or making 100 runs at the Old Trafford Test Match on behalf of the British Pakistani community.