More Indo-Pak seniors' cricket will promote peace: Azhar

Lahore, May 1 (UNI) Former captain Mohammed Azharuddin said that more cricket between the former players of India and Pakistan will promote peace in the region.

''There should be more such tournaments between the traditional rivals to promote peace and there should be visa-free movement of the players between Pakistan and India,'' Azharuddin said after India Seniors' beat their Pakistani counterparts by 30 runs in the fourth and final match at Gaddafi stadium here to clinch Seniors' series 3-1 here yesterday.

While visting Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy after the match along with his team mates, Azharuddin said he was pleased to learn that veteran cricketers in Pakistan are making lot of efforts to promote cricket. Former Pakistan captain Salim Malik and opener Salman Butt were also with them.

Azharuddin also thanked the officials of the Pakistan Senior Cricket Board (PSCB) and the people of Pakistan for their hospitality and love offered to them. He assured that the same gesture would be shown to the Pakistan senior cricketers when they visit India in near future.

Pakistan Seniors' captain and spin wizard of yesteryears, Abdul Qadir also echoed Azhar's views and said that there should be more interaction between the former cricketers of both countries not only to promote peace but also to popularise the sport in other parts of the world.

Pakistan Punjab chief secretary Salman Siddique presented a trophy and Rs 1,00,000 prize money to Azharuddin, while Qadir received Rs 50,000 and runners-up trophy.

Chasing a victory target of 258, Pakistan Seniors' could manage only 227 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 40 overs. The main contributors for the home team were former Test captain Aamir Sohail (50) and Mansoor Akhtar (38).

For India, Manoj Prabhakar claimed three scalps while Sukhvinder Singh and Noel David captured two wickets apiece.

Earlier, India made 257 for the loss nine wickets in their allotted overs after Pakistan won the toss and put the visitors to bat. Opener Sanjeev Sharma hammered a dazzling 57 with the help of three fours and two sixes. Sameer Dighe (55) and Nayan Mongia (37) were the other contributors for the winners. Qadir was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, claiming four wickets for 53 while Ejaz Faqih took two for 37. Aaqib Javed and Javed Hayat grabbed one wicket each.

The visitors won the first and third one-dayers in Karachi and Sheikhupura while Pakistan won the second match in Sialkot UNI XC PDS VP1005