By Kamran Hashim / Rafiq Vayani
KARACHI: Today, Saturday 18th November 2017 at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium an exhibition match is going to be played between Pakistan Rugby Team versus Sindh Rugby Team and this match is being termed as official launch of Rugby in Karachi, Sindh.
Rugby is being played in upper parts of Pakistan where there are clubs in Islamabad and Lahore, but for Karachi this is going to be something new. All this is with courtesy to some of the leading philanthropist families of Karachi.
Dr. Imran Ali Shah, President of Sindh Rugby was kind engouh to inform that there are three forms of Rugby played through the world ranging from the non-contact forms of rugby such as ‘beach rugby’, ‘touch & tag’ to the fullest and the purest form of rugby with full contact. Exhibition match taking place this Saturday 18th November 2017 at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium will demonstrate fullest & purest form of Rugby with full contact. Dr. Imran Ali Shah was himself a professional rugby player during his stay in England has played against some top teams.
Khurram Khuwaja an official from Pakistan Rugby & Sindh Rugby spoke about rugby’s presence in Pakistan and informed that after football, rugby is the most common and the most popular sports being played in almost 150 countries and Pakistan’s position is 130. Pakistan Rugby based in Lahore is full member of World Rugby, Asian Rugby, Pakistan Sports Board and Pakistan Olympic Association. We have teams of both genders. We also have rugby league with some departmental teams like Army, Wapda, all provinces and some cities. Pakistan Rugby also has an academy where we train youngsters, professional players and also coaches. We have around registered 600 trainers. Currently rugby is being played in Bin Qasim Park and at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium and what we need is governments support to allocation of dedicated ground for rugby.
Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar, Minister Sports, Government of Sindh thanked the host and the organizers and welcomed the idea of launching rugby in Karachi. He said that; “he is aware of the situation that there is no infrastructure available for this sports in Karachi and will surely look into the possibility of find a suitable ground which will be a dedicated one for rugby”. On replying to a question; Minister of Sports said: “he will also definitely be playing rugby as he has been playing others sports”.
Sardar Mehar announced Rs 200,000 for sports gear for upcoming exhibition to start off with and then will sit together soon and decide what more can the Government of Sindh do for promoting rugby.
Rugby is all about as working together as a team, and if you into rugby you learn more to play as a team resulting in improved teamwork, discipline and keeps you well focused.
Ms. Judith Bradshaw, Principal, Pathways British School, Mr. Junaid Mundia, Director, M. I Mundia Group, Mr. Steven Nigel Crossman, British Deputy High Commissioner Karachi, Dr. Farhan Essa, CEO Essa Laboratories and Mr. Abdul Basit Mundia, Director, M. I Mundia Group also spoke at the press conference.
