FORMER Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and former Indian star Irfan Pathan are expected to arrive in Bahrain early this morning to take part in tomorrow’s Bahrain Cricket Festival at the National Stadium in Riffa.
Other former stars expected to play in the match include, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir of Pakistan and India’s Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (presently banned by the Indian cricket board on allegations of match-fixing).
Former Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan and Marlon Samuels of the West Indies are the other stars expected to take part in the festival match, according to the organisers.
Misbah will lead the Misbah Falcons while Irfan the Irfan Eagles in a Twenty20 clash starting around 6pm. Local T20 matches involving Bahrain Cricket Academy players are also scheduled.
The event is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty for Chairty Works and Youth Affairs, chairman of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and president of Bahrain Olympic Committee, and in conjuction with Ministry of Youth and Sports and Bahrain Cricket Academy.
The event, starting at 12noon and finishing late into the night, is being promoted as a ‘fun filled family day’.
Apart from T20 matches, organisers have also lined up live performances by Stereo Nations and Pakistan actress Neelam Muneer, fireworks, skydive landing, marching band, carnival games, jumping castles, stage performances, street magic and tennis ball cricket for kids. Food and drinks will be available at the venue.
Tickets, starting from BD3, are available at Geant, Lulu, Gulf Mart, Mega Mart and online at ticketing.ae.
For more information, contact: 36678678, 66609701, 39458045.
Bahrain Cricket Academy have short-listed the following players to take part in the match: Mohammed Sameer (Bahrain), Wasif Iqbal (Pakistan), Junaid Niazi (Bahrain), Imran Javed (Pakistan), Imran Anwar (India), Umer Toor (Pakistan), Abdul Jabbar (Pakistan), Nishant Bhat (India), Imesh Soza (Sri Lanka), Babar Ul Ali (Bangladesh), Anasim Khan (Pakistan), Fiaz Ahmed (Pakistan), Ali Nasir (Pakistan), Yasser Nazir (Pakistan), Mohammed Faisal (Pakistan), Mohammed Rafey (Bahraini), Mohammed Usman (India).
Manager: Zulfiqar Ali. Assistant manager: Shahzad Akhtar. Coach: Azeem-ul-Haq.