Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi hosted a special reception at the historic Lahore Fort on Wednesday for the players and officials taking part in the tri-nation ODI series.
Players from Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka were received by Naqvi as “royal guests.” They were then taken on a tour of Lahore’s landmarks, including the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, the Tomb of Allama Iqbal and Hazuri Bagh, the PCB said.
At Diwan-e-Khas, guards in Mughal-era dress greeted the visitors. The tour also covered Diwan-e-Aam, Barood Khana and Sheesh Mahal, where guests were briefed on the fort’s history. The foreign players showed keen interest in its heritage, enjoyed a ride on a colourful rickshaw and applauded a lively performance by the Dholi Chi group.
Addressing the guests, Naqvi said, “You are all our special guests. Pakistan is a peaceful and safe country, and the Pakistani nation has a special passion for cricket.”
A dinner was also held in honour of the visiting teams. Players from Sri Lanka and England thanked the PCB for the event, calling it memorable and saying they would leave Lahore with pleasant memories. Match officials also praised the arrangements, saying that they had never experienced such a reception before.
Sri Lankan diplomats, Punjab Chief Secretary, former PCB chairmen Zaka Ashraf and Ramiz Raja, former cricketers, PCB COO Sumair Ahmed, PSL CEO Salman Naseer and other senior officials also attended.
