England cricketers to play golf for quake aid

ISLAMABAD—England’s touring cricket team have agreed to play an exhibition golf match in Pakistan to raise funds for earthquake victims, Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer said. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram may also play but none of the current Pakistani side are golfers.
“I put forward the idea of four-ball contests, each with three businessmen and one cricketer, and am grateful to England team manager Phil Neale who agreed to the proposal,” Woolmer, also a former England cricketer, told newsmen on Thursday.
The contest is scheduled for December 4 at the picturesque Royal Palm Beach golf course in Lahore.
“We will also invite former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, who is an active golfer and after the contest the golf kit and players other equipment can be put up for auction,” added Woolmer, himself an avid golfer.
Pakistans massive October 8 earthquake, measured at 7.6 on the Richter scale, left over 54,000 people dead and made over three million people homeless.
England captain Michael Vaughan said he and his players were touched by the disaster.
“It was massive and we are here to play exciting cricket and bring smiles back to Pakistani people’s faces,” Vaughan said at his arrival press conference on Wednesday.
“It would be fantastic to feature in a fund-raising golf event,” said Vaughan, all of whose teammates play golf.
The golf director at the Lahore club, Englishman Jeremy Frankeo, said he was delighted at the prospect.
“Its fantastic and the objective is noble, so my club is gearing up for the event,” Frankeo told newsmen.
Frankeo said he met Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison when they toured Pakistan with England Under-19s in 1997.
“It would be exciting to meet Flintoff and Harmison again. They were nobody at that time but are great stars now. The whole club looks forward to meeting the England team”.—Agencies