Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
Home »Sports News » Pakistan » England cricketers visit quake victims

  • News Desk
  • Oct 29th, 2005
  • Comments Off on England cricketers visit quake victims
Four England cricketers made an emotional visit to a hospital in the Pakistan capital on Friday to comfort children injured by the massive October 8 earthquake.

Captain Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, Ashley Giles and Mathew Hoggard spent 40 minutes at the PIMS hospital to express sympathy with the victims of the devastating quake, which killed more than 54,000 people and injured 77,000.

Witnesses said opening batsmen Trescothick and pacer Hoggard broke into tears when they saw 25-day-old Ahmad Akhtar, who had both his legs fractured.

The baby boy was just a week old when the quake demolished his home in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir which bore the brunt of the disaster.

His father, Pervez Akhtar, said he did not recognise the English players but was happy to see them inquiring after his son.

The English cricketers also spent time with six-year-old Wasim Yousaf, who lost all the fingers on his right hand. They also met 45-day-old baby girl Fiza, who also suffered two fractured legs.

"As a father myself I felt distressed to see the 25-day-old kid, it was distressful to see the injuries to the kids," Vaughan later told reporters. "However, we have to remember that they are the lucky ones who received aid and medical treatment," he said.

The England captain urged quick delivery of tents and blankets for tens of thousands of survivors in the quake-hit areas before the onset of the harsh winter in the rugged region.

"It is important with winter approaching that the plight of those needing blankets and tents in the earthquake zone is met quickly."

Vaughan said he was pleased that so many British people were helping the quake victims.

A representative of World Health organisation, Faiza Iqbal, hailed the cricketers' visit. "It was nice of them to visit... such visits help raise spirits," said Faiza.

After arriving in Pakistan for a 58-day tour to play three Tests and five limited over games, Vaughan said he and his players were touched by the disaster.

"It was massive and we are here to play exciting cricket and bring smiles back to Pakistani people's faces," Vaughan said at his arrival press conference on Wednesday.

The England players will also take part in a fund-raising golf match in Lahore on December 4. They are expected to announce donations for quake victims after the first one-day international in Lahore on December 10.

Pakistan Cricket Board has already announced that the entire gate money from the first limited overs match would be given to the government's relief fund.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005


the author

Top
Close
Close