Published: Aug 07, 2016, 06:20 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 07, 2016, 06:20 PM (IST)
The third Test between England and Pakistan, which is being played at Birmingham, became special for the visiting side as one of their country’s biggest youth icon, a female empowerment activist, girl-child’s education crusader and a peace activist Malala Yousafzai met with their players after the end of play on day four of the match. The meeting, which was organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had all the Pakistani players in attendance. ALSO READ: Watch Moeen Ali take Yasir Shah to the cleaners on Day 5 of Edgbaston Test.
Malala, who is the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been living in the city of Birmingham ever since she had to leave her country due to a terror attack and constant life threats as she spread the word for women’s education in Taliban dominated part of the country. She was invited as the Guest of honour for the event and was formally received by PCB chairman Shahryar Khan, Chairman of Warwickshire Norman Gascoigne and Pakistan High Commissioner to UK Syed Ibne Abbas.
It was for the first time that Malala was watching a cricket match live and she hoped that the Pakistani fans get to watch the national team perform at home in front of them. Currently, the team is forced to play its ‘home’ matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the security concerns raised by international teams after a terror attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team in March 2009. ALSO READ: Mohammad Hafeez trolled after yet another failure in England – Pakistan Test series.
“I am ready to tell the world that Pakistan is a safe place and teams should go there and play cricket,” Malala told reporters in 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.”
PCB chairman heaped praises on Malala and hoped that the team will be able to win the Test and give Malala something to cherish for. “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. She is enthusiastic in her passion for cricket and delighted to attend the Test at Edgbaston. She said that she is hoping for a Pakistan victory in this match but wishes good luck to both sides,” said Shahryar Khan.
Malala, whose favourite cricketer is Shahid Afridi, was presented with a mini-bat by the Pakistani skipper Misbah-Ul-Haq. The bat, which was signed by the Pakistani players, was gifted as a token of appreciation for Malala’s visit.
