JEDDAH, 21 April 2007 — Hashir Qamar Fasihi, a 7th grader at Essence of Knowledge School, won the gold medal at the Pehla Under-12 Single Wicket Tournament organized by Jeddah Cricket League at the JCL Complex in north Obhur yesterday, bringing the curtain down on the six-week event.
Obaidullah Mujtaba of International Indian School-Jeddah (IISJ) and Shoaib Ahmed Khan of Pakistan International School (English Section) received the silver and bronze medals respectively.
The finals were watched by chief guest Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled Almaeena, and guests of honor India’s Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed and Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, consul (Haj, P&I) and were impressed by the spirited and stirring performances by the young lads, with some smashing the ball over their heads.
In a lighter vein, Almaeena, at the prize distribution ceremony, said: “If you play like this, you may replace some of the players in the Indian and Pakistani national teams.”
He said Arab News would consider sponsoring an inter-school cricket tournament like it had done recently in Riyadh.
Dr. Ausaf Sayeed said such tournaments between school children of different nationalities would instill the spirit of competition among them and promote camaraderie. “Regular interaction between various nationalities develops harmony between different communities,” said Dr. Sayeed whose two sons took part in the tournament, one of them reaching the quarterfinals. “This has become more of a family event where teachers, parents and sports enthusiasts take part,” he added.
Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan said the tournament was one of its kind and appreciated JCL for organizing it. Khan, who is also director of India Forum, said he was happy that the India Forum team reached top levels in the tournament.
Afsar Faheem gave the welcome speech. This was followed by Muhammad Iqbal, executive secretary of JCL, who gave his overall impressions of the tournament and appreciated the efforts of Aijaz Ahmed Khan for his pioneering role in organizing the tournament with success.
Aijaz said the tournament would not have been possible without the sponsorship of Pehla and Danish Abdul Ghafoor of Drive Direct Marketing.
Syed Majeedul Hasan, general secretary administration of JCL, conducted the ceremony in his imitable style interspersed with Urdu couplets. A.A.A. Merchant announced the prizes.
Single Wicket prizes:
Two best wicket keepers: Saad Syed Iqbal and Omar Iqbal; Two best batsmen Faleh Sayeed and Muhammad Abdullah (Yanbu); Two best bowlers Syed Jehangir and Muhammad Wazir. Special performance awards: Aman Aslam, Abdul Baseer, Wasib Aijaz, Mudassir Aslam, Muhammad Adil, Anas Siraj, Muhmmad Abdullah (Jeddah).
Fourteen best fielder awards: Hamza Zain, Walid Zain, Abdullah Afsar, Hamid Afsar, Abdullah Ahmed Saad Naveed, Abdul Baseer, Muhammad Waqar, Saad Zain, Osama Zain, Noman Khan, Fahad Naveed, Abubakar bin Mahfooz, Abdullah bin Mahfouz.
Also given were the proud parent awards for the winners of gold, silver and bronze medals.
Coaches honored were Nizam Ali Khan of IISJ, for bringing 73 of the 153 boys who participated and selecting and training them during exam time while also bringing them to the grounds, PISJ (English Section) Hamid Rasheed, who brought 36 boys, and Pakistan International School Urdu Section (Aziziah) Nisar Mohammed.
Principals of IISJ M.S. Rahman, PISJ (Aziziah) Wing Commander Muhammad Siddique, PISJ English Section Esar Hussain Shah were also honored.
The efforts of coordinators – Abubakar bin Hussain, Rahat Chaudhry, Fayyaz Zafar, Nayeem Khan, Irfan Rathor, Badruddin Ansari, Siadath Ali Khan, Altaf Hussain, Sultan Mazharuddin, India Forum President Khader Khan and India Forum Team Captain Wasim Dawood Mukadam — were recognized.
Plaques were given to Khaled Almaeena, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Pehla’s Alwyn Rodrigues, and Danish A. Ghafoor.
JCL President Shahid Amin, Executive Secretary Muhammad Iqbal, tournament chief coordinator Aijaz Khan also received the plaques.
In an U-12 festival match between JCL vs. Pehla XI, the former emerged victorious. Babar Toor captained JCL and Saleh Abdullah captained Pehla XI. The exhibition was a 10-over per side match.
JCL XI: Babar Toor (captain), Furqan Faroukh, Faris Aijaz Khan, Ibrahim Mansoor, Muhammad Nasir, Irfan Tariq, Fahad Abdul Ghani, Muhammad Abbas, Amir Hussain, Iftikhar Hassan, Hamza Hassan, Younus Khader Khan, Zain Rizwan, Umar Azghar Khan, Noman Zubairi.
Pehla XI: Saleh Abdullah (captain), Sohail, Adnan, Saad Nasir, Muhammad Maniar, Shagil Ansari, Hisham Pervez, Syed Wiqar, Areeb A. Khashif, Azhan Sayeed, Ziad Ahsan Khan, Uzair, Sami Pervez, Hasnain Haqani, Zain Bobat.
Pehla XI were 65 all out in 10 overs. JCL reached the target in 7 overs. Amir Hussain of JCL took three wickets and one run out. Babar Toor took two wickets and scored 11 runs. Faris Aijaz took one wicket.
All 153 boys received JCL-Pehla certificates for their participation.
Exhibition match performers received medals in addition.
