5th All Pakistan 2014 National Bank Wheelchair Users Cricket Tournament

3rd to 5th April, 2014

Venue: Jinnah Sports Complex, Islamabad

Organized By: Saaya Association Islamabad

Disabled Welfare Association, Karachi

Milestone Society for the Special Persons, Lahore

History of Sports for Persons with Disabilities in Pakistan

It is said that the 15% of the total population of Pakistan is disabled persons and this marginalized

community still suffers lack of facilitation and proper knowledge of managing lives with disability. Like

other facilitations this segment of society is kept behind in healthy activities too like sports. They infect

are not considered healthy enough to participate in any outdoor sports but credit goes to the Disabled

Persons Organizations who made it happen in the well befitting manner, the Role of DPOs in

collaboration with other organization introducing and promoting sports for persons with disabilities

can never be denied. Disabled persons organization incepted this idea of sports for persons with

disabilities in Pakistan and executed it in the well manner, practically organizing sports festival across

the country they proved that self-done is well done.

Organizing Committee Meeting

5TH All Pakistan National Bank Tournament

organized by Saaya Association, Disabled Welfare

Organization and Milestone Society for the Special

Persons at Jinnah Sports Complex where all 6 teams

from different cities of the country were given a

warm welcome on 3rd April, 2014. Wheelchair

Cricket teams included:

1. Islamabad Saaya Association Team

2. Lahore Milestone Team

3. Karachi DWA Team

4. Mardan Team

5. Multan Team

6. Mirpurkhas Team

The organizing committee meeting was observed on 3rd April where captain from each team

participated to draw the rule for the good of the game; the rules for the wheelchair cricket were fixed

and mutually agreed.

Welcome Dinner and Musical GALA Night

A heartily welcome dinner along with music festivity was organized by the organizing committee where

representatives from the national assembly, INGOs, NGOs and civil servants participated. All the teams

and their official were present and enjoyed the diner with musical performances from different local

well tuned musical figures; Mian Aim Zafar, Mr. Shafiq Ur Rehman and Dr. Shahnawaz Munami

(National Coordinator CBID-N) introduced the participants to the dignities from respectable parliament

and other entities and made them understand the history of wheelchair cricket in Pakistan and need of

its promotion at government level for the healthy generation with equal opportunities of life.

Speaking on the Occasion Dr. Shahnawaz Munami, National Coordinator Community Based Inclusive

Development Network said that we have to facilitate persons with disabilities instead of discriminating

them as good for nothing stuff, he said that with use of little help from assistive devices we can step

forward towards inclusion and acceptance, these are can play only provided with wheelchairs so life

need management not pity or exclusion, the parliamentarians are requested to consider this

component of managing lives with disabilities and in this way we can achieve our goal of barrier free,

right based and inclusive society for all.

The dignities from showbiz also graced the occasion and entertained the participants with their skits

and funny remarks, Mr. Khwaja Massod and Ms. Asima Butt won the hearts of audience with their

performances on stage.

Inauguration Ceremony and Flood Night Matches

The formal Wheelchair Cricket tournament started on 4th April morning, the 6 team had to play each

match against each team so all these matches were planned to be played in a day utilizing the flood

night arrangements in the Jinnah Stadium premises. 15 matches were played till 01am midnight. These

matches raised high on the official score board by the organizers to display points of each team. The

Inauguration ceremony during matches was observed where honorable parliamentarians graced and

spoke on the occasion. All of them appreciated the efforts of the organizers and committed there that

they will be organizing and promoting such wonderful right based events for persons with disabilities in

whole country for the promotion of equality and dignity of persons with disabilities.

The honorable parliamentarians who graced the

occasion included:

Mrs. Kishwar Zahra (Member of

National Assembly, MQM)

Mrs. Nighat Shakeel (Member of

National Assembly, MQM)

Mr. Rehal Hashmi (Member of

National Assembly, MQM)

Mr. Muzamil Qurashi (Member of

National Assembly, MQM)

The 6 teams played professional cricket no doubt and matches were running towards their

mathematical conclusion, each match had to be played in 50 minutes timing that was pre fixed by

the organizing committee so that 15 matches can be played In a single day and the next day was

fixed for Semi final and Final as well.

The team who did well in the league matches included Multan Team, Milestone Team and Saaya

Team that won maximum of their matches and were following each other on the score board.

The lunch and refreshment was served in the ground and we are thankful to the partners who

made it happen in the best possible way.

Flood Night Cricket

Half of the matches were played in the day light and rest of the league matches were played in the

flood night that longed till midnight. Each team was enthusiastic and with the will and

performance to lift the Winning Trophy so the tough matches were played that entertained the

audience, the ground was full of crowd that participated from different walks of life and all of

them were of the view that persons with disabilities just need acceptance and management and

disability is an outside issue, it is here rooted in our attitudes and thoughts that we believe an

practice in life but the reality is different.

The honorable parliamentarians/ Ministers

who graced the occasion in the evening

included Minister of Planning &

Development Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of

Sports Mr. Riaz Ahmad Peerzada and Dr.

Akhter Nawaz Ganjara (Director General

Sports) the dignities appreciated the

efforts of the organizers and specially

persons with disabilities who traveled a

long way to participate in games to execute

their talent, they further assured that

government will soon draw policy for

persons with disabilities and they will not be put back in provision of basic facilities of life. On this

occasion Dr. Shahnawaz Munami (National Coordinator CBID-N) presented a copy of Disability Act

to the Mr. Ahsan Iqbal minister of Planning & Development.

The FINAL MATCH between Multan and Milestone

All the 6 teams from all over the country played brilliant cricket but two had o be selected to play

the Final on 5th April, 2014, both Multan Team and Milestone from Lahore made 8 points on the

score board and lead others in winning their 4 matched out of 5 played. The Final match was mush

awaited event of this tournament and it was watched by a huge crowd including dignities from

Parliamentarians, INGOs, NGOs representatives, Civil Servants from the Government and

University students from COMSAT and Fatima Jinnah as well.

It was 8 Overs match where Multan decided to bat first and scored wonderful 160 Runs, hard

target to chase and Milestone could scored 72 runs and team went to pavilion losing the Final and

Victory Smiles on Multan Team Faces and gestures.

Congratulations to the Multan team for being

CHAMPIONS 2014

Closing Ceremony

The 3 days festivity meets a happy ending and

there comes the closing ceremony where Chief

Guest Managing Director Pakistan Baitul-Mal Mr.

Abdul Waheed & Mr. Tariq Zafar Iqbal Regional Head of National Bank of Pakistan distributed

prizes among the team players for their good performance and certificate of appreciation were

distributed among the organizers and umpires of this historical event, Multan team lifted the

Winning Trophy and Milestone lifted the

Runner Up.

Agha Hussnain was announced the Man of

Series for his best performance in each

match he played. The dignities that spoke to

the occasion and distributed prizes included:

Dr. Shahnawaz Munami

(National Coordinator CBID Network)

Dr. Maryam Mallick

(Technical Advisor WHO)

Mr. Abdul Waheed

(MD Pakistan Baitul Mal)

Mr. Tariq Zafar Iqbal

(Regional Head National Bank of Pakistan)

Dr. Akhter Nawaz Ganjera

(Director General Pakistan Sports Board)

Mr. Sibghat-ur-Rehman

(Directorate General Capital Administration

& Development Division)

Mr. Fazal-ul-Rehman

(Past District Governor Rotary club Islamabad)

Mr. Nawabzada Khurshid

(Executive editor Pakistan group of News Papers)

Muhammad Afzal Butt

(President Pakistan federal Union of Journalist

Mr. Sheryar Khan

(Press Club Islamabad)

OUTCOME OF THE EVENT

Members of National Assembly from different political parties were sensitized regarding

the rights of person with disabilities

The draft of Disability Act presented to the parliamentarians and concern departments

during the event

The teams of person with disabilities participated from all over the country

The civil society, students, government officials also attended this historical event and

well aware regarding the rights of persons with disabilities

SPONSORS-AND CO ll SPONORSto A THANKSSPECIAL

National Bank of Pakistan

Pakistan Sports Board

Hanif Rajput catering Services

MacDonald

Mehar Group of Petroleum

Bell North

Rotary Club

Hands