Unbelievable Scenes at the Stafford Cricket Ground

The traditional Aziz Rehmatulla Memorial Cups 2012 Cricket Gala was held on Sunday, April 08. Matches included Houston Pakistan Seniors Vs Houston India Seniors (45+), and Houston Pakistan Vs Houston India, Format was the exhilarating Twenty/20.

Both the Pakistani Teams lifted the Aziz Rehmatulla Memorial Cups, after tight and most exciting games, in front of the fully packed Stafford City Park Ground.

In the first game of the day, Pakistani Seniors beat Indian Seniors by four wickets. Indians scored 137 for 8 in 20 overs, while Pakistani team crossed the target in 18th over for the loss of 6 wickets. Various awards went to: Player of the Match:  Bilal Saeed – Best Batsman: Dr. Absar Qureshi of STMA, Beaumont – Best Bowler:  Dr. Khalid Nabi, Captain of Pakistani Seniors – Best Fielder:  Mr. Farooq Haseeb (Nick name: Peechoo).

The second match played between the Best of Pakistan vs Best of India was the most exciting event of the day. First time in the History of Houston Cricket, in Twenty/20 contest in a full cricket ground, an International Player Umar Akmal, member of Pakistan National Cricket Club, represented Pakistan, while Sushil Nadkarnee, Captain of United States Cricket Team; and Japen Patel of Indian IPL represented the Indian Team.

The match of full of excitement and perhaps best ever played in Houston Cricket. Even though Pakistani Team won by 9 wickets, this certainly was not a one sided match.
Batting first, Indians scored mammoth 199 for 7 in 20 overs. This was the best and the highest total of the last 4 years in any of the ARMC competition.
Pakistani Team completed the target of 200 in the 18th over for the loss of only one wicket.

Scores and Result:

Indian Team: 199 for 7. Japan Patel (IPL India) 75 runs, Ankit Shah 62 runs

Pakistani Team: 203 for 1: Umar Akmal blistered his way to 129 runs not out with 16 boundaries and 5 huge sixes, Zain Naqvi scored 42 runs in 6 overs.
Player of the Match: Zain Naqvi (Umar was not considered for any award)

Best Batsman: Japen Patel (IPL player from India)

Best Bowler: Kashif Haroon

Best Fielder: Majid Rizvi  ( took two brilliant catches and also score 29 runs not out)

Congratulations to all Pakistanis. It was played before a packed Stafford Park, who probably saw one of the most excited Cricket Matches in the 25 plus year history of Houston Cricket League. The match highlights will be posted on You-Tube soon.

Organizers have thanked Aziz Rehmatulla Family for sponsoring the event in the past four successive years. Thanks to other supporters: Dr. Tariq Aziz SETMA of Beaumont, Dr. Imtiaz Anwar of Beaumont, Dr. Farhat & Mr. Manzoor Hasan, Sakhi Muhammad of Smart Choice Autos, Mr. Ahmed Jeddy of Dallas, Khalid Manzoor TOG Member, Haroon Shaikh CPA, Mehndi Maknojia of Gulf Warehouse, Azam Zakaria of Zak Oil, and several others, who provided support in putting together a great event for Houstonian Cricketing Communities.

Several Houston Dignitaries including Aqil Nadeem Pakistan Consul General in Houston, Former US Congressman Steve Stockman, Mr. Scarcella Mayor City of Stafford, Abdulla Jafari CEO of Shifa Clinics, Mr. Danial Noorani CEO of TCF, Tasleem Siddiqi President PAGH, Sajad Burki President PACT, MJ Khan Former City Councilman, Haroon Sheikh Former President Houston Chamber of Commerce and many more enjoyed a delightful Cricket Competition between India and Pakistan.

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