PESHAWAR: Students from Peshawar’s madrassas will compete in a national Zalmi Madrassa Cricket League to “show the world that they are agents of peace and enjoy sports,” organizers said.
The competition, the first of its kind at the national level, will be held at the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium from Aug. 28-31.
The Madrassa League has been organized by Pakistan Super League T20 team Peshawar Zalmi and the World Council of Religions — a private organization working to promote interfaith harmony — and aims to promote a positive image of madrassas.
“The idea is to spread this platform out to allow madrassa students from across Pakistan to exhibit their talent and show the world that they are agents of peace and enjoy sports,” Javed Afridi, Peshawar Zalmi owner and Zalmi Foundation chairman, told Arab News.
Afridi said he hoped to see the new PTI-led government bring in policies to revive sports at a grassroots level and promote them at a national level.
World Council of Religions Executive Director, Hafiz Nauman Ahmed, said that sports activities for madrassa students had been arranged previously, but the cricket league will be the first of its kind at national level.
“Twelve teams from madrassas across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are participating in the league. Each team was asked to accommodate players from all religious sects and we have managed to accomplish that task,” Ahmed said.
Muhammad Talha, a 21-year-old student from Jamia Darul Qur’an in Swat district, told Arab News that this was his first time taking part in a cricket tournament. “In the circumstances, events like these are important. We need to show the world that madrassa students love sports and are peaceful,” he said.
Hafiz Nadir Zeb, a student at madrassa Darul Furqan in Peshawar, said: “Now our madrassa students can join a cricket franchise or even the national team.”
Teams taking part in the event are: Al Haq Smashers, Al Maqasid Fighters, Al Hilal Challengers, Al Wahda Hitters, Al Noor All Rounders, Al Khair Riders, Al Mutahidoon Creatives, Ittehad Peace Builders, Al Fatah Record Setters, Al Nujoom Risers, Al Qurra Stars, and Al Barq Thunders.
Peshawar Zalmi organized the Zalmi Azadi Cup in connection with independence day this month and the Zalmi School League in December 2017.
Students batting for peace in Pakistan’s first madrassa cricket league
Students batting for peace in Pakistan’s first madrassa cricket league
- Players for 12 teams participating in Zalmi Madrassa Cricket League have been selected from seminaries of different sects to promote interfaith harmony
- Twelve teams will promote interfaith harmony and positive image of madrassas, organizers say.
’Ugly’ England aim to spin their way to World Cup semis ahead of Pakistan clash
- England stuttered with the bat, finishing at 146-9 in their Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka last week
- A win over Pakistan today will be enough to see the 2010 and 2022 T20 World Cup champions into semis
SRI LANKA: England are yet to catch fire at the T20 World Cup, but they won’t mind one bit if another “ugly” win secures Harry Brook’s side a semifinal berth with a game to spare.
England bowled out Sri Lanka for 95 on Sunday to open their Super Eights campaign with a 51-run win.
With the Pakistan-New Zealand clash on Saturday being washed out, a win against Pakistan on Tuesday at the same stadium will be enough to see the 2010 and 2022 T20 World Cup champions into the last four.
England again stuttered with the bat and were restricted to 146-9 by Sri Lanka on Sunday.
“We know that we can play a lot better,” all-rounder Liam Dawson told reporters after the win, in comments only made public on Monday.
“But at the end of the day in tournament cricket, you just need to get the win, however ugly.”
England’s bowlers came to the rescue for the third time in the tournament, after also defending below-par totals against Nepal and Italy.
“The fight we’ve shown with the ball shows that this team is in a very good place,” said Dawson.
Pakistan possess a dangerous spin attack, featuring a unique weapon in Usman Tariq and his pronounced pause before he releases the ball.
But Dawson said England would fight fire with fire with their own potent slow-bowling arsenal.
England captain Brook also has speedster Jofra Archer, the hit-the-deck-hard Jamie Overton and left-arm swing bowler Sam Curran as the seam options.
England’s flexibility enabled Will Jacks to open the bowling with his off-spin on Sunday and destroy Sri Lanka’s top order.
He returned figures of 3-22 in tandem with Archer, who removed both opening batsmen, to leave Sri Lanka in tatters at 34-5 at the end of the six-over power play.
England’s variety offers Brook endless options, said Dawson who bowls left-arm spin, as does Jacob Bethell.
“We’re all very different types of spinners. Jacksy gets very good over-spin, very good bounce.
“Dilly (wrist spinner Adil Rashid) has all these variations and me, I’m probably more of a defensive spinner and that’s my role. I’m just trying to be consistent for the captain.
“Adil can use all of his tricks and he comes on to get wickets and get us back in games or put us ahead in games.
“Obviously, Jacks, he’s been brilliant. He’s exploited conditions here very well.
“And I think the way Brookie captained today was phenomenal, how he used us all differently.”
But Dawson cautioned that the wicket on Tuesday night could play very differently to the tacky slow track they encountered on Sunday, which had sweated under covers after days of rain in Kandy.
“Obviously, a different challenge on Tuesday at a night game. It could be a better wicket. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.”
