KATHMANDU, MARCH 11

The 9th Edition of Nepal-Pakistan Friendship T20 Cricket Tournament-2024 has concluded in Kathmandu, on Sunday.

The closing ceremony and prize distribution of the tournament which commenced on march 2, took place on March 10 with the tournament seing the participation of twelve teams representing various clubs.

During the event, Shiva Koirala (Jwala), Vice President of the National Sports Council, Nepal, and the Chief Guest awarded the trophy to the winning team, Cricket Excellence Centre Kathmandu. The Lee Cricket secured the runners-up position in the tournament and also received a trophy.

Distinguished guests included Golam Sarwar, Secretary-General of SAARC, Noha Hamdy Ahmed Elgebaly, Ambassador of Egypt to Nepal, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal, Xie Yu Economic & Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Utsav Dhungana, General Manager of the Cricket Association of Nepal, Prachanda Bahdur Shrestha, Chairman of Himalayan Bank Limited, and Ashoke SJB Rana, Chief Executive Officer of Himalayan Bank Limited. The ceremony was also attended by journalists, civil society representatives, and sports enthusiasts, according to the press statement issued by the Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu.

The special guests also presented the prizes to prominent players and officials of the T20 Cricket Tournament.

Addressing the gathering, Shiva Koirala lauded the Pakistan Embassy's initiative for successfully organizing the event. He added that the event is now on the sporting calendar of Kathmandu and manifestation of close relations between Nepal and Pakistan.

Ambassador Abrar H. Hashmi congratulated the winning teams and lauded the organizers on successfully materializing the event. He added that the tournament contributed in providing opportunities to emerging cricket players of Nepal.

'This yearly event since 2014 has been an avenue to forge strong relations between both countries,' he said while commiting to continue to bring the youths of two countries together by organizing such events in future as well. The Ambassador also thanked the Chief guest, special guests and the participants for their interest and presence in the event and extended his gratitude to Himalayan Bank Limited on supporting the event.