The Pakistan cricket team led by skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was in full attendance as they met up with Pakistani activist for female empowerment, education and also the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, at the end of the fourth day’s play at Edgbaston in a ceremony conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Invited as Guest of Honour for the match, Malala was formally received by PCB chairman Shahryar Khan, Chairman of Warwickshire Norman Gascoigne and Pakistan High Commissioner to UK Syed Ibne Abbas.
Malala, who is living in the English city of Birmingham, ever since surviving a horrific terror attack back home in Pakistan, was watching a cricket match live for the first time ever. She hoped that the Pakistani fans get to watch the national team, who are forced to play their ‘home’ matches in the UAE due to the security concerns raised by international teams, perform in front of them, sooner rather than later.
“I am ready to tell the world that Pakistan is a safe place and teams should go there and play cricket,” Malala told reporters at Edgbaston. “What the outside world thinks about Pakistan is not true and all those terrorists are not Pakistanis, so teams should come and play in Pakistan and wherever I will go I will tell the world about this.”
Speaking about her first ever experience of a cricket match, which has been a very even contest so far with England 311 runs ahead at the close of play on Day 4, Malala said that she hoped Pakistan could spring a surprise and grab an unlikely victory. “I never went to a cricket match in Pakistan and this is my first time and I am here to support the Pakistan team which is doing well,” she said, and told people gathered that Shahid Afridi was her favourite cricketer.
PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan welcomed Malala on behalf of the Pakistan cricket team and was thrilled by the enthusiasm shown by Malala and hoped that the Pakistan cricket team would be able to give her a memorable result to cherish at the end of the Test match.
“It is a pleasure to see Malala here today. She gives a morale boost to the Pakistan players at a crucial time of this Test match. I know that she is keen to watch cricket and enjoy the fine play we have seen so far in this match,” he said. After the day’s play, she was very much looking forward to meeting the Pakistani players. She is enthusiastic in her passion for cricket and delighted to attend the Test at Edgbaston. She said that she hoping for a Pakistan victory in this match but wishes good luck to both sides.”
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq also presented Malala with a mini-bat signed by his side as a token of appreciation for the activist.
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