F&A United clinches ZPL cricket title

The Zahid Premier League (ZPL) recently completed its second successful season of cricket with F&A United emerging victorious in the keenly-fought league. Ten teams competed over a 9-week period with the two new entrants contesting the final.
This year, new entrants included F&A United, Wared Warriors and McDonald’s, which was the other team to make the final.
The season was highly successful and after a number of intense matches, AVI Strikers, CVD Riders, McDonald’s and F&A United made it to the semifinals. McDonald’s and F&A United displayed their pedigree in the semis and made it to the final with plenty to spare. The teams were introduced to the chief guest Ghazanfar Ali prior to the final contest.
F&A United opted to bat first. Though McDonald’s took some wickets and restricted F&A United to 138 for 6, their effort was not enough as F&A United came back to win the match by 23 runs.
F&A were given an excellent start of 112 runs with openers Imran Shahid (62) and Imran Mahmoud (25) runs setting the pace. But Bushan and Murli (McDonald's) bowled well and took 2 wickets each to peg back F&A.
McDonald's, in their effort, did not start well, losing one of their opener in the very first over. Aftab scored 30, and Nishan and Mujtaba (15 each) as McDonald’s stuttered. F&A United’s bowlers kept the pressure by bowling a terrific line, and Faisal (3 wickets) and Hammad and Nadeem (1 wicket each) sealed the win.
F&A United’s player David Howarth commented that all the teams and supporters truly enjoyed the ZPL with a high spirited contribution throughout the league.
The prize distribution ceremony, which was attended by Amr Khashoggi (chief and sponsor of the tournament), Dr. Zico (sport sponsor) and Mohammed Zia ur Rehman (sponsor and executive board member).
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of verses of the Holy Qur’an by Suhaib Samiruddin and opening remarks given by Ghazanfar Ali. ZPL President Samiruddin welcomed the dignitaries, players and other guests.
In their speeches, Dr. Zico praised the efforts of the ZPL Committee for organizing another successful season. Khashoggi, in his address, enlightened and surprised cricket lovers with information about the game that was novel to many of them.
“Many historians argue among themselves on the origin of the name cricket,” Khashoggi said. “But according to Heiner Gillmeister, a European language expert of Bonn University, ‘cricket’ derives from the Middle Dutch Krik Ket that means stick chase.”
He continued with the fun facts, stating that the game originated in England as a children's game in the 16th century but “it took about 200 years before adults picked it up and official records began in the 18th century.”
Khashoggi closed by offering congratulations for “bringing this wonderful game into our lives, raising our spirits high and energizing us to plow our full strength for the good of community, company and colleagues.”
Handing out certificates and prizes for Man of the Match were Rashad Zahid, Faraz Shamsi and Ghazanfar Ali. Dr. Zico distributed individual awards to the players, umpires, and the committee members, and Khashoggi awarded the medals and trophies to the runners-up (McDonald’s) and the ZPL Season II champion (F&A United).
Samiruddin proposed the vote of thanks, while announcing they will be playing ZPL Season III in 2013.