Karachi—Emirates, one of the fastest growing international airlines, provided an unforgettable experience for orphans at Karachi’s Edhi Village Apna Ghar when it brought a number of star cricketers to the facility to host a coaching clinic.
The children were thrilled as Yasir Hameed, Zulqarnain Haider, Shakil Ansar and Sajjad Hussain– players for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy finalists Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd (ZTBL) – signed autographs and posed for pictures.
The children also had the opportunity to ask the players – who have all played at international level - about their lives as professional cricketers. In addition, the youngsters bowled deliveries to their special guests and tried batting against them, while staff and fellow residents at the home, which houses 200 children, cheered from the sidelines.
“Interacting with these children and experiencing their excitement first hand is a gratifying feeling. Knowing that you may be able to make a difference to their lives is the reason I got involved with the sport in the first place,” said ZTBL player Yasir Hameed.
“Through this great initiative undertaken by Emirates we really enjoyed connecting with the children and were able to offer our advice on techniques as well as what a cricketing career entails. Their passion inspired us,” added Hameed.
“More so than celebrities these children require mentors,” said, Ahmed Edhi, Assistant Zonal in-charge Edhi Foundation, which is a non-profit organization providing social services for orphans and abused women throughout Pakistan.
“They are passionate about cricket but have no guidance or knowledge on the way forward to pursue a cricketing career. We are grateful to Emirates for bringing these cricketers to the children as they have success stories of their own to tell and these stories can not only inspire the children but guide them as well.”
The airline has a long history of supporting cricket through its various sponsorships across the globe. As part of Emirates’ collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Quaid-e-Azam trophy was the second event in a series of tournaments that will be sponsored by the airline. Following the recent National T20 Tournament, it will also be supporting the upcoming Pentagular Cricket Cup 2011-12, OneDay Cricket Cup 2011-12 and Super 8 T20 Cricket Cup 2012.
“Our sponsorship of domestic cricket is not limited to supporting tournaments. We aim to extend our support by providing opportunities such as this to children who can benefit from meeting positive role models like the ZTBL players who visited the Edhi Village,” said Badr Abbas, Emirates’ Vice President, Pakistan & Afghanistan. “Children look up to cricket players and hopefully this activity will not only help them develop their cricket skills, but also inspire them on a personal level,” added Abbas.
The children were thrilled as Yasir Hameed, Zulqarnain Haider, Shakil Ansar and Sajjad Hussain– players for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy finalists Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd (ZTBL) – signed autographs and posed for pictures.
The children also had the opportunity to ask the players – who have all played at international level - about their lives as professional cricketers. In addition, the youngsters bowled deliveries to their special guests and tried batting against them, while staff and fellow residents at the home, which houses 200 children, cheered from the sidelines.
“Interacting with these children and experiencing their excitement first hand is a gratifying feeling. Knowing that you may be able to make a difference to their lives is the reason I got involved with the sport in the first place,” said ZTBL player Yasir Hameed.
“Through this great initiative undertaken by Emirates we really enjoyed connecting with the children and were able to offer our advice on techniques as well as what a cricketing career entails. Their passion inspired us,” added Hameed.
“More so than celebrities these children require mentors,” said, Ahmed Edhi, Assistant Zonal in-charge Edhi Foundation, which is a non-profit organization providing social services for orphans and abused women throughout Pakistan.
“They are passionate about cricket but have no guidance or knowledge on the way forward to pursue a cricketing career. We are grateful to Emirates for bringing these cricketers to the children as they have success stories of their own to tell and these stories can not only inspire the children but guide them as well.”
The airline has a long history of supporting cricket through its various sponsorships across the globe. As part of Emirates’ collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Quaid-e-Azam trophy was the second event in a series of tournaments that will be sponsored by the airline. Following the recent National T20 Tournament, it will also be supporting the upcoming Pentagular Cricket Cup 2011-12, OneDay Cricket Cup 2011-12 and Super 8 T20 Cricket Cup 2012.
“Our sponsorship of domestic cricket is not limited to supporting tournaments. We aim to extend our support by providing opportunities such as this to children who can benefit from meeting positive role models like the ZTBL players who visited the Edhi Village,” said Badr Abbas, Emirates’ Vice President, Pakistan & Afghanistan. “Children look up to cricket players and hopefully this activity will not only help them develop their cricket skills, but also inspire them on a personal level,” added Abbas.
