CAPE TOWN – Pakistan’s army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a surprise visit to the Pakistan cricket team’s dressing room while on a private tour to South Africa this week.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) was in the Newlands to watch the fifth and final ODI of the series between South Africa and Pakistan. Team manager Talat Ali invited COAS Bajwa to the team’s dressing room so that the players could be encouraged.
The top military commander, who is an avid fan of cricket, demonstrated his knowledge of the game during interaction with players and team management.
During his interaction with the players and officials of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Bajwa was all praise for Sultan Rana, the uncle of cricket team’s assistant manager Mansoor Rana. He also mentioned Mansoor’s late father and renowned umpire Shakoor Rana.
The players were even more pleasantly taken aback when they found out the general knew quite a lot about cricket and past cricketers.
According to the team manager, General Bajwa informed the Pakistan team that he used to play cricket as well.
The five-match ODI series between Pakistan and South Africa ended with the hosts winning it 3-2.
Today, world No. 1 Pakistan would be looking to end an otherwise disappointing tour of South Africa on a successful note by winning the three-match Twenty20 International series in Cape Town.
