ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr. Fehmida Mirza said on Monday Pakistan was working on “practical steps” to collaborate with Saudi Arabia to promote sports in the Kingdom, particularly cricket.
The comments come in the wake of a meeting between the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, and Mirza last week in which they discussed cooperation in the field of sports.
“I believe in sports diplomacy,” Mirza told Arab News in an interview. “The matter [of cooperation in cricket] has been taken with Ehsan Mani, chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board. We are working on practical steps to collaborate in promotion of sports, especially cricket in KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
PCB media director Sami Ul Hasan said PCB looked forward to assisting in the growth of cricket in Saudi Arabia.
“PCB can provide whatever help Saudis will ask for, like coaching, players training, developing organizational structure and mentorship,” Hasan told Arab News.
“I totally support his idea that cricket should come to the Kingdom, not just for the Asian diaspora but for Saudis as well,” Pakistani ambassador to Riyadh, Raja Ali Ejaz, said. “It is also good for the growth of the game in the region.”
He added: “Now that the Saudi ambassador has talked to our government in Islamabad so I will take it further by taking this matter with concerned Saudi sports ministry. Initially we can bring here famous Pakistani cricketers and arrange events to increase the interest of Saudis in the game.”
According to a statement issued by Mirza’s office, during her meeting with the Saudi ambassador last week, he said cricket was becoming popular in Saudi Arabia because of the Pakistan cricket team, which had a following in the country.
“We want to utilize Pakistan’s rich experience in the field of cricket and promote it in Saudi Arabia,” Al-Malki was quoted in the statement as saying.