By NNN-APP,
Karachi : President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday night complimented Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for successfully staging the 9th Cricket Asia Cup in Pakistan.
“Hosting of Asia Cup in befitting revealed that Pakistan is peaceful place to stage sporting events,” he said in his address to spectators after the presentation ceremony of 9th Asia Cup at National Stadium here on Sunday night.
He congratulated Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene for winning the tournament and thanked all the participating countries for showing the sportsmen spirit.
President also praised the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for team’s good showing in the championship.
He reiterated that successful staging of Asia Cup clearly reflects that Pakistan was capable of hosting such major international events.
“Peoples are happy with the tournament and participating teams enjoyed the hospitality they got during their stay in Pakistan”.
President Musharraf, who is also Patron-In-chief of PCB, also thanked the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for fully supporting PCB by awarding the hosting rights to Pakistan.
He further said PCB will also hold such international events in future as well.
“We want South Asian countries to be closer through sports activities,” he said. He strongly condemned the Islamabad bomb blast and expressed Pakistan resolve and commitment to continue support to the war against terrorism and pledged that such cowardly incidents could not shake its commitment. “We will continue to hold such activities and international events in Pakistan,” he stressed.
Slogans in support of President were raised by a section of the crowd when he arrived in the main balcony to watch the action in last half of the match between Sri Lanka and India.
He waved to the crowd and responded to their slogans.