Gwadar stadium hosts first cricket match, dedicated to Ali Sadpara
It was a sight for sore eyes as the cricket stadium in Gawdar city, dubbed by many as the world’s most beautiful one, hosted its first ever cricket match on Friday.
The picturesque stadium, surrounded by the majestic mountains and hills, is hosting a match between the Showbiz Sharks Vs the Gwadar Dolphins. Prime Minister Imran Khan dedicated the match to the unsung hero, Ali Sadpara.
Sharing the images from the stadium, the official page of Khan wrote: “The first ever cricket match being held at Gwadar cricket stadium, the match was dedicated to Muhammad Ali Sadpara.”
Zulfi Bukhari seconds Khan. “Dedicating the 1st ever match at Gwadar Stadium to Pakistan’s son #MuhammadAliSadpara. The match tomorrow will start with a prayer in his memory,” he tweeted.
“This is the beauty of our land, even our loss unites us from K2 to Gwadar to Quetta,” he added.
Dedicating the 1st ever match at Gwadar Stadium to Pakistan’s son #MuhammadAliSadpara. The match tomorrow will start with a prayer in his memory.
— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) February 18, 2021
This is the beauty of our land, even our loss unites us ..from K2 to Gwadar to Quetta.#CricketAtGwadar pic.twitter.com/FIyFP3tZhm
The first ever cricket match being held at Gwadar cricket stadium, the match was dedicated to Muhammad Ali #Sadpara.#CricketAtGwadar#City Will Be Worlds Trade Hub 🇵🇰#CPEC pic.twitter.com/UmltctXzPW
— CPEC 🇵🇰🇨🇳 (@CPEC_UPDATE) February 19, 2021
According to a report, the Showbiz Sharks were being led by PCB CEO Waseem Khan and will include Fakhr-e-Alam, Faysal Qureishi, Ali Zafar, Saleem Sheikh, Aijaz Aslam, Shezad Roy, Sami Khan, Kamran Jeelani, Salman Saeed, Ali Safina and Noman Habib.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, were being led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari and features local players and Ali Zaidi and the GOC Gwadar.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, officiated the toss between Zulfi Bukhari and Waseem Khan.
Cricket buffs couldn’t hold back from tweeting pictures of the stadium. Here are some of the tweets:
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis decided to jump on the “Pawri Hori Hai” bandwagon.
Ye hum hain
— Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & HRD (@mophrd) February 19, 2021
Ye humara toss hai
Aur yahan cricket ho rahi hai 🏏
SAPM @sayedzbukhari wins the toss @CTurnerFCDO @TheRealPCB @falamb3 @AliZafarsays #CricketAtGwadar pic.twitter.com/AoKymgHc4E
One Twitter account uploaded the new PSL banger playing loudly in the stadium.
#CricketAtGwadar
— Beautiful Pakistan🇵🇰 (@LandofPakistan) February 19, 2021
Gwadar Cricket Stadium the Most Beautiful Cricket Ground in the World. pic.twitter.com/BIW3QSYCKC
Zulfi Bukhari’s ministry tweeted a few pictures of the Dolphins’ captain on the field.
SAPM @sayedzbukhari on the field at Gwadar#CricketAtGwadar pic.twitter.com/xz09puwLWO
— Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & HRD (@mophrd) February 19, 2021
Christian Turner himself was pretty excited to be at the venue.
An honour to preside over coin toss at inaugural #CricketAtGwadar match at beautiful Gwadar stadium. @sayedzbukhari Gwadar Dolphins choses to bowl against Showbiz Sharks. pic.twitter.com/NBpfNPpYPc
— Christian Turner (@CTurnerFCDO) February 19, 2021
Before the game commenced, prayers for Pakistani mountaineer Ali Sadpara and the other two foreign climbers were held who went missing with him on their adventurous expedition to K2.
Sadpara was recently declared dead by his family.
Dua for #AliSadpara at Gwadar Cricket Stadium #CricketAtGwadar pic.twitter.com/r8tY6yFVO0
— Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & HRD (@mophrd) February 19, 2021
The stadium was first highlighted by singer, actor and TV personality Fakhar-e-Alam, who tweeted pictures and videos from the stadium.
Soon, the International Cricket Council (ICC) caught wind of it and shared pictures of the stadium, upsetting some Indian cricket fans in the process.
Meanwhile, sharing a video of the stadium, Aijaz Aslam wrote: “World’s most beautiful cricket stadium Gwadar.”
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Earlier Faysal Qureshi and wife, Sana faysal also shared pictures and video of their visit to Gawadar.
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