Azhar, Sajid raise 240,000 pounds for Pakistan flood victims

Thu, Oct 14 10 10:27 PM

Karachi, Oct 14 (PTI) Former all-rounder Azhar Mehmood and England fast bowler Sajid Mahmood have combined to raise 240,000 pounds for the flood-affected victims of Pakistan. The two cricketers organised a charity dinner and auction in London last month to raise funds for the flood victims and even managed to involve the England and Liverpool football stars, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher in the noble cause. According to Azhar who is in Pakistan playing the national T20 championship Gerrard and Carragher donated their Liverpool jerseys for the charity dinner and they fetched good prices. "We were expecting to raise around 100,000 pounds for the flood victims but the involvement of top sporting stars of Pakistani origin in the United Kingdom, the kind gesture by the footballers and with the cooperation of the Pakistan team we managed to raise 240,000 pounds," Azhar said. He and Sajid went to the district of Nowshere in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province to distribute cash and goods among the flood victims with the assistance of the Islamic relief fund charity organisation. "It was a very moving experience for me and Sajid and we realised how much help and assistance these flood victims need," he said. Azhar, who last played for Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup and has appeared in 21 Tests and 143 one-dayers for his country, said he and Sajid were planning more charity dinners and auctions for the flood victims. The allrounder, who plays for Kent, said that Sajid who has represented England in 8 Tests and 21 ODIs played a big role in involving other English sportsmen in the fund raising campaign. Sajid is also due to get married in Lahore on Friday. The floods that devastated Pakistan this year have left millions homeless and have led to many Pakistani sportsmen donating cash for the displaced families. The Pakistan cricket team that played in England last month donated its winning bonuses and the players part of their match fees for the flood relief fund set up by the government.

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