By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Turkey’s state-run aid agency launched Friday a cricket training facility for girls in the southern port city of Karachi, Pakistan.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) set up the cricket training nets for girls at the SMB Fatima Jinnah State School in Karachi to promote the sport among girls.
Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Sarfaraz Ahmed, TIKA’s Karachi coordinator Ibrahim Katirci and Shehzad Roy, head of Zindagi Trust, which adopted the said school, inaugurated the training facility.
Addressing the ceremony, Ahmed appreciated the initiative that, he said, would provide better training opportunities for female cricketers.
“The young people of Pakistan have a huge talent. The only thing we require is to explore that,” Ahmed said, appreciating Turkey’s support in this regard.
Katirci, for his part, said that TIKA established the facility for girls to promote cricket which is a national passion in Pakistan.
“This is a gift from Turkish people to the youth of Pakistan,” he added.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Roy said that Zindagi Trust was transforming the lives of thousands of children by providing them with better education opportunities and environment.
“With the help of TIKA and the people of Turkey, we are taking one step forward providing new opportunities for the female cricketers,” he said.
TIKA provided professional cricket kits and gadgets to the entire cricket team.
In order to promote digital literacy among students, the aid agency also donated electronic equipment to the SMB Fatima Jinnah School and the Khatoon-e-Pakistan School in Karachi.
