LAHORE: Pakistani film and television actor, Hamza Ali Abbasi, applauded Saudi authorities for their flawless management of Hajj pilgrimage involving more than two million people.
Abbasi, who is currently in Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Muslim ritual, said in a video released by the Kingdom’s Center for International Communication on Monday that he was stunned by the sheer magnitude of the event.
“You can’t help but imagine what kind of logistical nightmare it would be,” he smiled, “but it goes very smoothly … It goes so seamlessly that you don’t realize what kind of a mammoth effort goes behind it.”
Abbasi noted that he was pleasantly surprised by the degree of “inclusiveness” during Hajj, adding that he had seen “people from literally every country on the face of this planet, united under this one creed that there is only one God.”
The Pakistani actor is not just a known face in his own country but has also developed significant fan following in the Kingdom after his film “Parwaaz Hai Junoon” was commercially released in Saudi Arabia last year. Spotting him in the crowd in his bright white ihram, many fellow pilgrims requested to take pictures with him.
Abbasi is also among the 200,000 Pakistani pilgrims who decided to undertake their spiritual journey to Islam’s holiest cities of Makkah and Madinah this year. In the video, he urged Muslims everywhere to at least “come here once.”
“You cannot begin to imagine the [spiritual] experience,” he said. “You have to be here in personal to experience each and every bit of [this journey].”
Pakistan’s Hamza Ali Abbasi praises Saudi Arabia for smooth management of Hajj
Pakistan’s Hamza Ali Abbasi praises Saudi Arabia for smooth management of Hajj
- Currently in the Kingdom to perform his pilgrimage, Abbasi says he is stunned by the scale of the religious ritual
- In a video released by the Saudi Center for International Communication, he urges all Muslims to undertake the spiritual journey at least once
India captain says will travel for Pakistan clash despite boycott
- Pakistan have announced they will boycott their match against India on Feb. 15 in Sri Lanka
- India need to be at the stadium on Feb. 15 to ensure they are awarded two points for match
MUMBAI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav said Thursday that his team would show up in Colombo for their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite their Group A opponents and arch-rivals boycotting the match.
“We haven’t said no to playing them (Pakistan),” Yadav told reporters at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, where India will begin their campaign against the United States on Saturday’s opening day.
“They are the ones who have said no. Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.”
India need to be at the stadium and ready to take the field for the February 15 match in order to make sure of being awarded the two points for a match forfeit.
The tournament, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, has been overshadowed by weeks of political posturing in the build-up.
Bangladesh were kicked out for refusing to play in India and Pakistan’s government then told its team not to show up at the clash of the arch-rivals as a show of support for Bangladesh.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments events.
India start the T20 World Cup on home soil with a great chance of retaining the title they won two years ago and Yadav agreed they were the side to beat.
“The way we have been playing, it looks like we are the favorites,” he smiled.
If that seemed like an overconfident statement, the India captain was quick to caution: “There are 19 (other) good teams in the tournament, though.
“On a given day, when you play, you have to bring your A-game and play good cricket.”
India know that their opening opponents, the United States, caused the biggest upset of the 2024 tournament when they beat Pakistan in a super over.
Yadav said no team would be taken lightly.
“I’m sure every game will be very important,” he said.
