An apathy of its own kind: Forgetting the Disables and Handicapped

Yesterday all eyes in Pakistan were focused on the 2nd ODI being played between Pakistan and England at Dubai. Having lost the first ODI against England, everyone was praying for Pakistan to win for an equalizer. But did any one any idea that in the same area, another cricket match of a different kind was being played - between Pakistan and England. Perhaps many did not know.

The match was part of a three series ODI being played in the UAE at International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy Oval ground in Dubai, between the Disability Cricket teams of Pakistan and England. And what is more interesting is that while Pakistan national team lost the 2nd ODI to England, our disable players gave a tough time to England and won by a large margin of 79 runs.

Pakistan’s Matloob Quraishi (left) and Hasnain Alam during the match against the England in Dubai Wednesday [Image Credit: Pankaj Sharma/Gulf News]

Pakistan simply outplayed England and won the first of the three matches by a large margin of 79 runs. Hasnain and Matloob from Pakistan hit impressive centuries despite their disability. Hasnain, who lost his left foot in a mine blast, cracked 136 off just 105 balls with the help of 19 boundaries and a six, while Matloob whose right hand had to be amputated following a road accident, hit an unbeaten 110-ball 113, as Pakistan put up 285 for five in their allotted 40 overs.

England had a difficult target to chase and none of its batsmen could replicate the superb performance of Hsnaain and Matloob and lost by 79 runs.

And the sad part is I hardly found any mention of this win anywhere in today's newspapers. Do we know that such a series was going on in Dubai? Did PCB had it advertised the same way the national of 'normals' has been given coverage in the newspapers? Do we know when the team departed and who are the team members? Perhaps not many would say they do.

Even the website of Pakistan Disable Cricket Association has not been updated beyond 2010.

Now for the information of those who are reading this post, I may add that the team of Pakistan Disable players under Salim Karim is playing three three 40-over matches and two Twenty20s at the ICC Global Academy.  

It may be added that Pakistan skipper Karim right leg is withered by polio and his left leg was damaged in an accident. He has been a driving force of the Pakistan team which he assembled in 2006 by funding that team's activities out of his own pocket. While Farhan Saeed, the fast bowler who hais from Karachi is an amputee, but generates extraordinary pace jumping onto a crutch when coming to ball.

While Former Test captain Rashid Latif has been coaching and supervising the training of the team, Younus Khan may also be credited for having launched the Pakistan national team for physically disabled cricketers. Younus even supports their initiative. 

The Pakistan squad includes:

Saleem Karim (captain), Major Hasnain Alam (vice-captain), Matloob Qureshi, Arif Richard, Altaf Ahmed, Farooq Ahmed, Danish Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Rao Javed, Jahanzaib Tiwana, Nihaar Alam, Abdullah, Farhan Saeed, Mohammad Kalam, Mehdi Hasan, Fayyaz Ahmed, Ameer Ahmed.

With their first win, we should send our best wishes to the team and pray for their efforts to bear fruit and have winning spree throughout the on going series of three 40-overs matches and two T20 matches.


Sources: Jaho Jalal | Gulf News | Dawn News

Posted in: Cricket,Disability Cricket,Pakistan