Mian Mujahid Shah, Staff Reporter
Pakistan cricket team players took to the field with black armbands to express solidarity and support for the people affected by recent deadly floods back home in their first match against India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Also during the day, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also announced that the gate fees from the first England T20 on Sept.20 will be donated to the Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund.
In pre-match conference at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan captain Babar Azam appealed to the world to pray for and help the flood-affected people of his country.
Babar Azam leaves the field after being dismissed during the Asia Cup match in Dubai. AFP
Pakistan skipper further said it is a tough time in our country and we all are praying for the affected people.
Injured Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi requested all citizens to help and donate as much as possible. “Let us come out of this as a nation,” Shaheen tweeted.
Sunday's clash between India and Pakistan will see the resumption of the 'greatest rivalry' in the world of cricket.
According to details, the monsoon rain and flooding have created mayhem across the nation, and in the last 24 hours, 119 more people have died, as per figures released by Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday. At least 33 million people have been affected by floods in Pakistan, said NDMA in a statement.
According to the NDMA, as many as 110 districts were hit by the floods and 72 districts have been marked as calamity hit.
People gather in front of a damaged road in Swat Valley on Saturday. AFP
Close to 950,000 homes have been destroyed, of which over 650,000 homes have been partially damaged.
Hundreds of people have died in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, where heavy rains have triggered devastating floods in rivers and streams that also swept away several hotels and homes near their banks. Balochistan province has also remained cut off from the rest of Pakistan due to flooding.