Five Commonwealth countries mark Commonwealth week through cricket.
Five Commonwealth countries marked Commonwealth week through a cricket tournament hosted by the British High Commission, Islamabad.
British High Commission hosted a cricket tournament to mark Commonwealth week
Five teams, represented by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Canadian, Australian, Indian and British High Commissions, played a series of friendly matches during an exciting six hour event.
The celebratory occasion was opened by the British High Commissioner, Mr Adam Thomson, CMG. The Director General MFA, Mr Najm Us Saqib, the Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Peter Heyward, the Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Greg Giokas, and the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr Sharat Sabharwal, also attended the event. Some of the High Commissioners were even seen on the field playing for their teams.
After a nail biting series of matches, the Canadian High Commission team scooped the winning trophy in what was a close call. The winning trophy was presented by Mr Adam Thomson, CMG, to the winning team.
Commenting on the success of the event, Adam Thomson, CMG, said:
“Sport is a key part of the Commonwealth’s identity. It promotes its core values, including humanity and equality as well as tolerance, respect and understanding. Today’s friendly matches have encompassed these values and have further strengthened bonds between Pakistan and the foreign Missions during what has been an exciting and fun event.
With over a third of the world’s population, the Commonwealth is an institution with a rich past and a promising future. For the first time in its sixty-four year history, the Commonwealth agreed a formal Charter this week. Her Majesty The Queen signed a copy of the Charter which sets out its core values.
Commonwealth members share principles of democracy, rule of law, good governance and similar legal systems. These provide solid foundations for working together on trade, investment, development and education. The Commonwealth also plays a practical role in encouraging democracy and has observed over seventy elections since 1990. As a fellow Commonwealth country and friend of Pakistan, we also look forward to witnessing elections this year in Pakistan that are credible and acceptable to the Pakistani people.
The significance of the Commonwealth has been steadily growing over the last two decades. In publishing the Charter, members have signed up to a common set of beliefs and made clear their intention to build up the institution and make it ever more relevant in the months and years to come.”