Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup scales greater heights in second edition

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The recently held second edition of the Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup 2014 turned out to be a standout event of Karachi. The picturesque Lawai Stadium, illuminated with stunning floodlights, remained the talk of the town with the live telecast of the knockout games for seven nights running. 

Everything about the tournament, spread over a month or so, was near perfect. The facilities at the ground were truly exceptional. It was quite extraordinary how they managed to save the pitch when it rained heavily before the start of the one of the semifinals. 

There were fears that the match might have to be postponed because the rain was so heavy. But the pitch had been so nicely protected that it remained dry when the covers were taken off much to the amusement of the players and the officials. It was nothing short of a miracle that 12-overs-a-side contest was still made possible shortly at the end of the heavy downpour. 

There were apprehensions in some minds about the location of the ground but, as Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, had so emphatically stated during the media launch of the event at the Karachi Gymkhana a couple of days before the start of the tournament, there was nothing to worry about when approaching the ground or leaving it. 

The event progressed very smoothly indeed and not a single untoward incident was reported during 31 nights of cricket action. There was no issue of law and order situation in the area during the entire length of the tournament. 

All the matches were played under floodlights and there was tremendous excitement at the ground which built an atmosphere that’s rarely found at other venues of Karachi these days. The dream of establishing the Lawai Stadium in Naya Nazimabad as a model cricket ground is very much on the way to fulfillment. 

It has already created waves in a short span of time and it seems a matter of time when high-profile matches will be taking place at this marvellous venue. The 2nd Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup was yet another feather in the cap of the promoters of the massive housing scheme, who consider cricket as the paramount source of binding the various sections of the society. 

It went to the credit of the management of the corporation to have arranged for the live telecast of the knockout matches of the 2nd Peace Cup which was a great value addition for the tournament itself. It was quite a remarkable achievement to have done it so quickly. Other local tournaments have also been televised in the recent past but it had taken ages for them to do so. 

The Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup, launched only last year, was on air in only its second edition. The presence of the high-ranking government officials, including Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, and Advisor on Sports to Sindh Chief Minister, Adil Siddiqui, besides some top businessmen of the country was a testimonial to the success of the tournament. 

Mohammad Iqbal, Director Sports, Naya Nazimabad, played the pivotal role in making the tournament a resounding success. The former first-class cricketer, who also has vast experience of cricket administration, worked with missionary zeal almost round the clock to ensure that everything remained in order. 

The success of the 2nd Peace Cup should pave the way for further glories for the Lawai Stadium which is expected to host matches of the national cricket tournaments, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as early as the upcoming season. The Lawai Stadium, named after Hussain Lawai, a famous banker, seems set to become one of the most sought-after cricket grounds of the country.

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Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup scales greater heights in its second edition

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The dream of Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, of establishing the Lawai Stadium in Naya Nazimabad as a model cricket ground is on way to fulfillment. It has already created waves in a short span of time and it seems a matter of time when high-profile matches will be taking place at this marvellous venue. 

The recently concluded second edition of the Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup, held under fllodlights, was another feather in the cap of the Javedan Corporation Limited, the promoters of the massive housing scheme, who consider cricket as the paramount source of binding the various sections of the society. 

It went to the credit of the management of the corporation to have arranged for the live telecast of the knockout matches of the 2nd Peace Cup which was a great value addition for the tournament itself. It was quite a remarkable achievement to have done it so quickly. 

Other local tournaments have also been televised in the recent past but it had taken ages for them to do so. The Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup, launched only last year, was on air in only its second edition. 

There were apprehensions in some minds about the location of the ground but, as Arif Habib had so emphatically stated during the media launch of the event at the Karachi Gymkhana a couple of days before the start of the tournament, there was nothing to worry about when approaching the ground or leaving it. 

The event progressed very smoothly indeed and not a single untoward incident was reported during 31 nights of cricket action. There was no issue of law and order situation in the area during the entire length of the tournament. 

All the matches were played under floodlights and there was tremendous excitement at the ground which built an atmosphere that’s rarely found at other venues of Karachi these days. 

The presence of the high-ranking government officials, including Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, and Advisor on Sports to Sindh Chief Minister, Adil Siddiqui, besides some top businessmen of the country was a testimonial to the success of the tournament. 

While the support of the Arif Habib Group and the proactive involvement of the top management of the Javedan Corporation played its role in the smashing success of the tournament, one person who played the pivotal role in making it possible was none other than Mohammad Iqbal, a former cricketer, whose vast experience of cricket administration allowed him to do it in an organized manner. 

The resounding success of the 2nd Peace Cup should pave the way for further glories for the Lawai Stadium which is expected to host matches of the national cricket tournaments, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Boarb (PCB), as early as the upcoming season. 

The Lawai Stadium, named after Hussain Lawai, a famous banker, seems set to become one of the most sought-after cricket grounds of the country.

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Omar Cricket Club clinch Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup for second year running

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Omar Cricket Club extended its sensational form to retain the title by edging out Advance Telecom by two runs in thrilling final of the 2nd Peace Cup T-20 Night Cricket Tournament 2014 at the picturesque Naya Nazimabad Lawai Stadium on July 27.

So it has become two in two for the rampaging Omar CC side as they had also emerged triumphant in the inaugural edition of the tournament held at the same venue last year.

Set a daunting target of 172 in 20 overs, Advance Telecom needed eight off the last six deliveries. Off-spinner Misbah Khan kept his cool and delivered a fantastic final over which yielded only five runs. He finished with the excellent figures of two for 28 in the high-scoring game. 

Advance Telecom was restricted to 171 for eight despite Babar Agha, who hammered two sixes and half a dozen fours in brilliant knock of 59 off 47 balls and Asif Ali, who made 55 off 26 balls with the help of six sixes and four fours. 

Omar CC was indebted to former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami who first boosted the total by blasting an unbeaten 59 off 34 balls with three sixes and two fours and later chipped in with two wickets for 17 runs to clinch the Man of the Match award. 

Omar CC installed a big total of 173 for seven in the allotted 20 overs. Prolific opener Rameez Raja gave the innings head start by striking seven sixes and eight boundaries in his splendid innings of 80 off just 44 balls. Fast bowler Sohail Khan (2-38) and leg-spinner Faizan Riaz (2-28) pulled it pack for Advance Telecom before the final onslaught from Mohammad Sami. 

The prize distribution ceremony was held soon after the conclusion of the final in which trophies and cash awards were given away by Adil Siddiqui, Advisor to Sindh Chief Minster, Arif Habib, Chairman Arif Habib Group, Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates, and Mohammad Iqbal, Director Sports, Naya Nazimabad. 

The Omar CC skipper, Javed Mansoor, collected the winners trophy with a purse of Rs four lacs while the Advance Telecom captain, Rehan Sheikh, received the runners-up trophy with a cash award of Rs two lacs. 

Among the individual prizes, Saud Shakil of Alamgir Gymkhana was declared Man of the Tournament while Rameez Raja, Fawad Khan and Javed Mansoor, all of them from Omar CC, were adjudged the best batsman, the best bowler and the best wicketkeeper of the tournament respectively.

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Naya Nazimabad Peace Cup to offer bigger cash rewards

By Syed Khalid Mahmood
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The prizemoney of the 2nd Peace Cup Ramazan Festival Cricket Tournament 2014, due to get underway under floodlights at the Lawai Cricket Stadium in Naya Nazimabad, Karachi, later in the week, has been enhanced substantially.

It was announced that the total prize money of the Peace Cup has now been raised to Rs 700,000 with the winners to collect a purse of Rs 400,000 and the runners-up to receive Rs 200,000. 

Arif Habib, Chairman, Arif Habib Group, having masterminded the development of a cricket stadium of international standard in the massive 2,100-acre housing scheme in the northern area of the city, shared the details of the mega project during a media briefing at the Karachi Gymkhana on June 23. 

He dispelled the impression that security was an issue while playing or commuting at the Lawai Stadium which will now be playing host to the second edition of the Peace Cup, after a successful launch last year. 

“Security is not area-specific issue. Living in DHA, I visit the ground almost every Sunday to play cricket matches. The management and staff of the Naya Nazimabad go there on a daily basis. The area is as safe as any other locality of Karachi ,” he reckoned. 

Arif Habib, himself an enthusiastic cricketer, disclosed that following the completion of the cricket stadium, now construction work has commenced on the development of grounds for hockey and football besides a club house, which will have facilities for indoor games. 

“The participants of the 2nd Peace Cup will find many new features at the Lawai Stadium which houses dressing rooms besides dugouts. The third-umpire room, sightscreens, auto rollers and auto cutting machines are now also there while the pitches have recently been re-laid,” he added. 

Responding to a question, Mohammad Iqbal, Director Sports, Naya Nazimabad, informed the media that they were awaiting action from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who have been requested to allocate them some matches during the upcoming 2014-15 cricket season at the Lawai Stadium. 

“The PCB committee had visited the Lawai Stadium and they agreed that it’s equipped with the modern paraphernalia amd merited consideration for being used as a venue for the national tournaments in the coming season,” he added. 

“Located in the vicinity of the populous North Nazimabad, our stadium seems to be having all the ingredients of becoming a venue for first-class matches as well as limited overs games under floodlights,” Iqbal felt. 

Test umpire Mr Riazuddin unveiled the technical aspects of the tournament while Samad A Habib, CEO, Javedan Corporation Ltd, Ali Rahim, President, Karachi Gymkhana, and Nadeem Omar, Managing Director, Omar Associates, and former cricketers, Anwar-ul-Haq, Babar Basharat, Sajid Abbasi and Zaheer Ahmed were prominent among those present on the occasion. 

As many as seven teams, United Sports Club, Faisalabad Wolves Star Cricket Club, Bank Islami, Vital Five Academy, Haidery Traders, Azad Pak Ltd and Royal Cricket Club will be making their debut in the 2nd Peace Cup. 

Defending champions Omar Associates, last year’s runners-up Qasmi Cricket Club, Alamgir Gymkhana, Travels Cricket Club Afghanistan, Sony Associates, Eaton Cricket Club, BYI Cricket Club, Advance Telecom and Brothers Cricket Club Dadu will be the other participating outfits in the tournament due to commence a couple of days before the start of the holy month.

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