Hailing from Pakistan, Lahore Legends arrived in Australia after being at the top of the table in Last Man Stands cricket league in Pakistan.
Last Man Stands is an amateur league played in fourteen countries.
32 teams participated in the championships with the best of cricket talent the world offered.
Owner/ Manager of the team, Shehryar Ansari told SBS Urdu that we had an amazing experience in Australia.
“It was a semi-successful tour for us.
“In the tournament, we started off well, won two games and lost one, but didn’t qualify for the finals due to run-rate.
“We played the finals in the plate-category and lost to a better team.”
Talking about the experience of playing cricket in Australia, Shehryar said that he was impressed by the sports facilities and the engagement of the community with the sport.
“We played on three grounds in Sydney, but also met people in the community and learned about cricket sporting facilities.
“I was inspired by the grooming of children from the grassroots level. I found it even better than in England.”
This is what affects cricket in Pakistan because the children don’t get the grooming from the start.
Shehryar added that this is what Pakistan “lacks.”
“We also have cricket grounds in Pakistan, in fact, there are quite a few.
“But only club-level cricket is taking place there. I was not allowed to play in the grounds when I was a child.
No wonder Australia is number 1 team not just in cricket but other sports as well.
Lahore Legends playing World Champs in Sydney. Source: Supplied
“Last Man Stands literally is named after the last man who continues to bat if he not out, but will need to run twice to between wickets for runs.
“It is cricket played with the same international rules of cricket. Hardball is used in all matches.
However, the number of players in a team is limited to eight and the T-20 format is used in the matches.”
Lahore Legends team consisted of the following players:
England Fast Bowler Jofra Archer (above, right) played Last Man Stands in Barbados. Source: FB/LastManStands
NewZealand bowler Jimmy Neesham played Last Man Stands before joining the national team. Source: FB/LastManStands
- Shehryar Ansari (Manager/Owner)
- Zain ul Abideen Sohail (Captain)
- Fayez Qamar
- Majid Niazi
- Zoran Masood
- Asad Bokhari
- Shaan Tahir
- Hassan Naqvi
Lahore Legends visited Sydney to play World Champs Source: Supplied
World Championship is held every two years and the winner of that year from a country is selected to play in the finals. Pakistan had two teams in the finals: Lahore Legends and Strikers were part of the eight groups consisting of four teams each.
“Two types of games are held in the finals. Two teams qualify for the cup while the remaining qualify for the plate matches.
