ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador Donald Blome hosted the Pakistan men’s national cricket team for a meet-and-greet here at the US Embassy on Monday.

According to a press release issued by the embassy, ambassador Blome welcomed the team, which was accompanied by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, at his residence and extended his best wishes to the players for this year’s ICC T20 World Cup being hosted jointly in the US and West Indies from June 1-29.

The US ambassador on the occasion presented the Pakistan team members with a commemorative cri­cket ball from the embassy and an autographed bat. Reciprocating the gesture, the Pakistani team presented the envoy with a signed bat and team jersey.

Ambassador Blome then participated in an impromptu cricket demonstration with the members of the Pakistan team.

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan, the 2009 champions, are scheduled to compete in the T20 World Cup featuring teams from 20 countries. Pakistan are placed in Group ‘A’ of the global competition alongside arch-rivals India, US, Ireland and Canada.

In their first group-stage match, Pakistan face the US on June 6 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2024