Peshawar Tragedy – Cricket Tournament – Sunday 28th December 2014

Like so many around the World, Lynn Holman was sickened by the Taliban’s murder of 132 innocent children and 9 teachers in Peshawar recently. As a mother, distraught at the thought of them happily leaving home for school and never returning. The devastation is not only for their parents but the whole local community.

Knowing many of the TRNC Cricket Club team were from Peshawar, she had the brain wave of a special Memorial Cricket Festival involving as many from the Pakistani community as possible. Lynn felt in their hour of need it was important they knew their grief was being not just being felt by themselves, but by the British and Cypriots in North Cyprus as well as people generally, regardless of their backgrounds.

The idea is to have 4 teams playing in an action packed Festival of 5 overs/innings cricket, with every player donating their 20TL match fees to the Pakistani welfare charity called Edhi which works in the Peshawar area. Pia Bella have agreed to provide their pitch for free and Creditwest has generously not only covered the printing costs but donate additionally to the charity as well. It is hoped the 200/300 expected supporters will also be happy to make donations.

The Festival will open at 10am with a minute’s silence and prayers by Salat Al-Janazah and Keith Lloyd., followed by the lighting of candles.  Lynn then will symbolically receive the first ball from Captain Danish Afridi who has worked tirelessly to make the Festival possible (he’s scared Lynn will hit him for 6 !!!!).

At the end of the match, there will be a remembrance walk from the Pia Bella stadium to Girne town centre.

Credit: NCN