By Sana Jamal –
Islamabad (PAKISTAN) – On the eve of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners for Pakistan, in their message have wished the Pakistan cricket team the very best ahead of the Cricket World Cup 2015, which begins on February 14, 2015.
Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward in Pakistan, in his special message noted that: “Pakistan and Australia’s shared passion for cricket has been abundantly clear to me in my time as High Commissioner. I have valued and enjoyed my interaction with the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistani team.”
Referring to the Pakistani success is the 1992 World Cup victory under Imran Khan’s captaincy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Mr. Peter Heyward cheered Pakistani cricket fans by saying that: “The final will again be at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Maybe history will repeat itself and Pakistan will feature again, though hopefully this time around Australia will be there too! We did meet in the 1999 final, one of the four times Australia has won the Cup.”
“Whatever the outcome, we are in for a feast of cricket. I know many Pakistanis will be there in person and experience directly the warmth and hospitality of Australians and the beauty of Australia” said the High Commissioner expressing his excitement for the Cricket World Cup.
“I’m very much looking forward to sharing the excitement of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with you all” he said to the cricket fans who would be following the matches in Pakistan.
The World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, begins on 14 February.
For Pakistani friends and cricket fans, the High Commission has put together a CWC 2015 Fixtures Guide which includes a section on Pakistan’s CWC matches, the full schedule of CWC games (in Pakistan time) and information on the CWC 2015 host cities in Australia and New Zealand.
HE Mr. Eamonn O’Shaughnessy, New Zealand High Commissioner for Pakistan and Ambassador to Iran, in his message also wished Pakistan team best of luck. Sharing his excitement, Mr. Eamonn remarked that “No Kiwi cricket fan has forgotten the excitement of 1992 when the Cricket World Cup first visited these shores. For many Kiwis it really seemed that 1992 was going to be “our year” until a 22 year old prodigy named Inzamamul Haq and a wily veteran named Javed Miandad stepped in to burst our dreams!”
New Zealand High Commissioner sharing his memories said that “All of Pakistan (including my wife’s family) have very fond memories of the 1992 World Cup and the tremendous achievement of Imran Khan and his team in securing the country’s first ever World Cup success.” Wishing Pakistan team good luck, he said: “I wish Pakistan the very best of luck and hope that we might meet in the final (albeit with a slightly different result to that of 1992!)”
