Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt welcomed Pakistan team players on their arrival here at Allama Iqbal International airport on Friday. The players and officials who arrived here at Allama Iqbal International airport were Abdul Razzaq, Abdul Rehman, Misbahul Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Ahmad Shahzad, Shoaib Akhtar and Wahab Riaz, team manager Intikhab Alam, coaches Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed. The players were garlanded and showered with flowers and a large number of cricket lovers were also present there to receive them on airport.

“Pakistan cricket team players showed superb performance and they should continue working hard to perform better in the upcoming international cricket events,” Shahbaz Sharif said during a media talk. “It was a remarkable performance on part of the team and reaching the semi-final was the result of their all-out efforts, hard working and collective team efforts,” praised CM Punjab. He, on the occasion, announced that he would arrange a reception in their honour and would award them cash prizes on April 5. PCB Chairman said that he was delighted that the Chief Minister came here to receive Pakistan team players who really done hard work to reach semi-finals of World Cup and raised Pakistani flag in India.

Intikhab Alam, team manager, also thanked CM Punjab for receiving the team members. He said the team performed well in the World Cup but unfortunately they could not come up to the expectations in the semi final against India. “I am satisfied with the overall showing of the team in the mega event.”Medium pacer Wahab Riaz termed his five-wicket haul in semi-final against India ‘a memorable feeling’ which will always inspire him to do better. He said the team was united and ready to notch World Cup but sadly they could not win the semi-final.