ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated England for winning the first of three Test matches against Pakistan on Monday as he hosted a reception for the two teams at his official residence in Islamabad.
England pulled off an exciting 74-run win over Pakistan Monday in the first Test in Rawalpindi. Anderson took 4-36 and Robinson 4-50 on a placid Rawalpindi Stadium pitch to dismiss Pakistan for 268, with the stadium floodlights glowing as daylight faded.
The win — giving England a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series — embellished England’s newly adopted “Bazball” cricket, an aggressive style taken from the nickname of head coach Brendon McCullum.
Sharif said it was great to host England and Pakistan cricket teams at the PM House Monday evening.
“Cricket is a shared passion that binds our two countries in a close relationship,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Congratulations to England for winning the first Test, but the true winner was the glorious game itself.”
Sharif said the ongoing England tour would go a long way in building bridges between the two countries, Pakistan’s state-run APP news agency reported.
“Pakistan enjoys wonderful relations with Britain and cricket is one of the factors… and this is one common area of passion between Pakistan and Britain,” the prime minister said at the reception he hosted.
“I think your visit would go a long way in building bridges.”
England are on their first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005, having declined to visit in the interim years on security grounds.
The second Test is in Multan from December 9 to 13, and the third in Karachi from December 17 to 21.
