Pakistan cricketers in Dubai pledge support to earthquake victims
Shocked Pakistan cricketers pledged their support to the relief effort in the wake of the massive earthquake on Monday that left more than 300 people dead in the country.
The 7.5 magnitude quake hit Afghanistan and north-west Pakistan, and the current confirmed death toll of 304 is set to rise as rescuers reach remote mountainous areas.
The Pakistan team said they did not celebrate their win against England in the second Test in Dubai on Monday after hearing news of the disaster, with manager Intikhab Alam confirming they were in a state of shock.
"Our hearts are with the suffering families and players intend to do relief work once they return home," Intikhab told AFP after the 178-run win.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq added: "We are badly hurt by the news of the earthquake and send our heartfelt condolences to families who lost their dear ones.
"The news pushed our win against England to one side and every player was shocked and wants to contribute towards the relief work."
Of the dead, disaster management authorities in Pakistan reported that 228 people had been killed there while the number of injured stood at 1,600.
"It's a big disaster for our beloved nation," said senior batsman Younis Khan, who scored a century in the second Test as Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
"All the players are with the suffering families and once I go back I will definitely take part in the relief work as its our duty to help our brothers and sisters," said Younis, who hails from the north-west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, an area badly hit by the quake.
Shock
Veteran Pakistan batsman Younis Khan was in shock after hearing of the devastating earthquake that rocked his country on Monday afternoon.
Rescuers were Tuesday searching for survivors after a massive quake hit Pakistan and Afghanistan, killing at least 277 people.
The toll was expected to rise as search teams reach remote areas that were cut off by the powerful 7.5 magnitude quake, which triggered landslides and stampedes as it toppled buildings and severed communication lines.
Speaking to Dawn from Dubai after Pakistan sealed victory over England in the second Test, Younis said that he alongwith the entire national cricket team were stunned by the tragic news of the severe earthquake which struck many cities of Pakistan.
“Our hearts go out to people in distress there (in Pakistan) and we have decided not to celebrate our win over England in a big way here due to the tragedy befalling our brethren,” said Younis offering his deepest condolences and support to the families of people who lost their lives and property.
“We heard the devastating news here and it was difficult for most of us to concentrate on the game after that,” said record-breaker Younis who passed 9,000 Test runs in Dubai by scoring his 31st century.
“I scored a century in this Test and thankfully we won the game, but our hearts and minds are with the people of Pakistan. I will definitely be visiting the affected areas as soon as I return to the country,” said the Mardan-born right-hander.