Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi’s emotional speech after losing in the doubles
final at the US Open may be making a difference for Pakistani sports.
Because of violence and terrorism last year, Pakistan has been stripped of its right to co-host next year’s cricket World Cup. International tennis and field hockey federations also have been struggling to get other teams to agree to visit the country for matches or tournaments.
But it looks like things are changing. “After what happened in Lahore last year, it will be first time when a team of ITF security officials will be visiting Pakistan in the coming months,” Qureshi told The Associated Press, referring to a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus en route to a test match. “Maybe it’s because of my speech at the US Open.”
Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna, from India, reached
the final in New York but lost to Bob and Mike Bryan, the top-ranked doubles team in the world.
After the match, Qureshi spoke from the heart at Arthur Ashe Stadium and drew a standing ovation.
“Every time I come here I feel there’s a very wrong perception about Pakistan being a terrorist country,” Qureshi said at the time. “We are very friendly, loving and caring people and we want peace in this world as much as you guys want. May Allah bless us all.”
American tennis great Jim Courier, who was conducting the prize ceremony, was impressed, saying the speech was “beautiful.”
But problems remain in Pakistan. Suicide bombings have taken hundreds of innocent lives as the country continues its fight against Al-Qaeda. The government is also struggling to help about 20 million people after recent floods left them homeless.
Now, with the International Tennis Federation expected to make its visit, Qureshi is hoping that Pakistan will be able to host Hong Kong in the Davis Cup next year at Lahore.
“Lahore’s Defence Club is one of the venues and I am hopeful that if everything goes well, we will see international teams returning to Pakistan in other sports too,” Qureshi said.
Because of violence and terrorism last year, Pakistan has been stripped of its right to co-host next year’s cricket World Cup. International tennis and field hockey federations also have been struggling to get other teams to agree to visit the country for matches or tournaments.
But it looks like things are changing. “After what happened in Lahore last year, it will be first time when a team of ITF security officials will be visiting Pakistan in the coming months,” Qureshi told The Associated Press, referring to a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus en route to a test match. “Maybe it’s because of my speech at the US Open.”
Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna, from India, reached
the final in New York but lost to Bob and Mike Bryan, the top-ranked doubles team in the world.
After the match, Qureshi spoke from the heart at Arthur Ashe Stadium and drew a standing ovation.
“Every time I come here I feel there’s a very wrong perception about Pakistan being a terrorist country,” Qureshi said at the time. “We are very friendly, loving and caring people and we want peace in this world as much as you guys want. May Allah bless us all.”
American tennis great Jim Courier, who was conducting the prize ceremony, was impressed, saying the speech was “beautiful.”
But problems remain in Pakistan. Suicide bombings have taken hundreds of innocent lives as the country continues its fight against Al-Qaeda. The government is also struggling to help about 20 million people after recent floods left them homeless.
Now, with the International Tennis Federation expected to make its visit, Qureshi is hoping that Pakistan will be able to host Hong Kong in the Davis Cup next year at Lahore.
“Lahore’s Defence Club is one of the venues and I am hopeful that if everything goes well, we will see international teams returning to Pakistan in other sports too,” Qureshi said.
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