Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar, on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, distributed the prize money cheques of Rs 95 lakh among the players and officials of the national deaf cricket team who won the Deaf T20 World Cup at a ceremony held at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muzaffar Khan Sial, Director General Sports Punjab Pervez Iqbal, Deputy Director Zahoor Ahmed and other officials were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the ceremony, Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the national deaf cricket team made the entire nation proud by defeating strong opponents Sri Lanka in the final of Deaf T20 World Cup at Sharjah last month. “We are awarding huge prize money of Rs 95 lakh to our deaf cricket team heroes as per vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is the first CM of the province who extended much needed support to sports and sports community. “CM’s love for sports can be gauged from the fact that she has doubled the amount of Sports Endowment Fund after assuming her charge. She also doubled the cash prize for deaf cricket players from Rs 2 lakh to 5 lakh”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that concerted efforts have begun to accomplish the mission of grooming 500 world class athletes. “We will also duly acknowledge and honour all title winning athletes belonging to different games in future,” he added.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced to organize grand Punjab League in which 15 games will be competed from UC level to provincial level. “Punjab League will be a suitable platform for all neglected players to demonstrate their talent. This league will also play a key role in tracing fresh potential players”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed that Women’s Pink Games are also going to be held in a much better way in the coming weeks. “Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is taking special interest in Women’s Pink Games which will provide a suitable platform to female athletes to showcase their hidden sports talent”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that more than 300 mega sports complexes will be developed across the province. “As many as 100 new sports complexes will be built in those areas where this valuable sports facility does not exist while 200 sports complexes will be rehabilitated. Around Rs 15 crore will be spent on one sports complex”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said the project of new and rehabilitated sports complex has been included in ADP. “A top standard sports complex will be constructed in Raiwind and Nankana Sahib. Besides this, we are planning to build sports complexes in all cities and villages of Punjab”.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar informed that the concept of outdoor gym is being introduced for the first time in Punjab. “Not only the cricket but we will encourage the players of every game being played in Punjab province. Besides this, all the issues of Punjab Sports Department has been resolved in a short span of time”.
Pakistan Deaf Cricket President Irfan Miraj, General Secretary S.M. Kumail Kazmi and other teams members thanked Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar for awarding a huge prize money to national deaf cricket team.
Following are the players and officials of Deaf T20 World Cup-winning national deaf cricket team: Zaka Ahmed Qureshi Hashmi (capt), Adnan Ghani (vice-capt), Mudassar Nazir (wk), Manzoor Khan, M Faizan Khan, M Jawad Ali, Bilal Yousaf, M Basit Abbasi, Jubbar Ali, Rashid Ali Jutt, Adeel Qadir, Bilal Khan and Ehsan Ullah.
Officials: Irfan Miraj (President), S.M. Kumail Kazmi (General Secretary), Komal Rafique (Liaison officer), M Umer Fayyaz (coach), Usman ul Ghani (Team Manager) and Tanveer Ahmed (Physiotherapist).