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

SPECIAL THANKS to All SPONORS AND CO-SPONSORS

National Bank of Pakistan

Pakistan Sports Board

Hanif Rajput catering Services

MacDonald

Mehar Group of Petroleum

Bell North

Rotary Club

Hands