Sports diplomacy: Pakistan, Bangladesh cricket boards team up

DHAKA: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with Bangladeshi Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs, Local Government and Rural Development Asif Mahmood.

Mohsin Naqvi, who also holds the portfolio of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President, is on a visit to Bangladesh ahead of ACC’s annual general meeting.

During the meeting, Pakistan and Bangladesh agreed to cooperate in the promotion of sports, especially cricket, and umpires’ development programs. Mohsin Naqvi also invited Bangladeshi umpires to train in Pakistan.

The attendees also discussed increasing cooperation for women’s cricket development programs. A formal agreement will also be signed between the PCB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for the promotion of sports.

Most of the population of Pakistan and Bangladesh consists of youth, Naqvi told the meeting, adding that youth development opportunities can be utilised through sports activities.

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Both PCB and BCB agreed on the need for joint initiatives related to skills development and employment of youth. Benefits from each other’s experiences in higher education, scholarship programs and the field of education were also discussed during the meeting.

BEYOND SPORTS

Beyond their sports portfolios, Mohsin Naqvi and Asif Mehmood, also discussed the Innovation in solar energy and increasing mutual cooperation between both countries.

Naqvi spoke about making identity documents foolproof, sharing details about the security system of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Bangladeshi Minister Asif Mahmood expressed deep interest in NADRA’s system, and in return Mohsin Naqvi extended an invitation to the Bangladeshi delegation to visit NADRA.

A high-level delegation from Bangladesh will soon come to Pakistan and visit NADRA.

This meeting strengthens the hope of taking the multifaceted relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, especially in the fields of youth, sports, education and renewable energy.

Bangladesh Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Mehboob Alam, Local Government Secretary Raza Al-Maqsood, Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistani High Commission Muhammad Wasif, Cricket team head coach Mike Hesson, Manager Naveed Akram Cheema and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

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