Mobilink’s ‘Hunt-for Heroes’ program brings honors for Pakistan in Under-15
Cricket World Cup

Karachi : May 8, 2008 – Mobilink, the country’s market leader in cellular communication services with over 30 million customers and part of Orascom Telecom, today unveiled the first success-story of its recently concluded ‘first-edition’ countrywide cricket program ‘Mobilink Hunt for Heroes’. Eleven players scouted from this program have made it into the Pakistan Under-15 team.

Designed to find exceptional talent from all parts of the country, Mobilink Hunt for Heroes has been an outstanding success having attracted more than 12,000 young and promising cricketers from 52 districts throughout Pakistan. The primary objective of this ‘first-of-its-kind’ program is to produce well rounded, physically fit and skilled players to represent Pakistan at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Bilal Munir Sheikh, Vice President Marketing, Mobilink delighted with the outcome of Mobilink Hunt for Heroes 2007 edition said, “Mobilink Hunt for Heroes program, which just concluded its first edition, has already started producing results with the Pakistan U-15 team shining in the Caribbean where eleven young men brought glory for the country. We are proud of this distinction and pledge to continue with the MHFH program with renewed enthusiasm.”

The Pakistan U-15 team won the knockout phase of the World Cup by emerging victorious in several matches, furthermore the youngsters held their nerves under pressure of playing in the final of the knockout phase of the U-15 World Cup and bagged numerous wins to play the final with the West Indies Under-15 team, which lost by 89 runs.

"The training camp held at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore during the second phase of Mobilink Hunt for Heroes bore fruit in the West Indies with the players exhibiting their heightened physical fitness, tactical awareness and mental prowess,” said Team Manager Haroon Rashid who praised the efforts of Mobilink in initiating an open and transparent cricket program.

Following is the list of players in the U-15 team, selected through the Mobilink Hunt for Heroes: Babar Azam (LHR) – scored the highest individual score of the tournament (165) apart from four fifties in eight matches for a total of 436 runs, second highest in the tournament. He also took seven catches in the tournament. M Naeem (ISB) – scored three fifties in eight matches for a total of 309 runs, Ahsan Ali (KHI); M Nawaz (RWP); M Qaddafi (HYD); Faizan Khan (KHI) – got the most dismissals (14 catches and 7 stumping) in the tournament. Usman Qadir (LHR) – was the second highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in the tournament; Zafar Gohar (LHR); Ahsan Abbasi (RWP); Waqar Khan (ISB); S Kumail Abbas (MTN).

A one-of-its-kind activity, where specialized coaches and trainers of PCB traveled the country to look for talented youngsters, Mobilink Hunt for Heroes has been largely applauded in cricketing circles. The successful conclusion of the first edition has taken the motivation level of the team to new heights, where they aim to bring out more and more youngsters to represent Pakistan with the launch of the next edition of Mobilink Hunt for Heroes this summer.

Pakistan’s matches in the knock-out phase: Quarterfinal – Pakistan beat Ireland by 8 wickets; Semifinal – Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 2 wickets; Final – Pakistan beat West Indies by 2 runs.

Pakistan’s matches in the league phase: Group stage – Pakistan beat Netherlands by 230 runs; Group stage – Pakistan beat Americas by 293 runs; Group stage – Pakistan beat Malaysia by 8 wickets; Semifinal – Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 6 wickets and Final – Pakistan lost to West Indies by 89 runs.