Pakistan cricket team's push-up celebration questioned in NA committee

By
GEO NEWS

October 26, 2016

Pakistan cricket team's push-up celebration questioned in NA committee

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Executive Committee Chairman, Najam Sethi was questioned over the Pakistan team's push-up celebration during a session of the National Assembly's Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee. 

During the Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee session, Rana Afzal raised the issue of the national team’s celebration. “What is this that when the team wins there is a push up celebration, but when they don’t there isn’t?” Rana Afzal questioned.   

The push-celebration first gained prominence in July when Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq performed it after completing his century during against England. The team used the same celebration after defeating England at Lord’s.  

Read: Misbah reveals story behind push-up celebration 

Najam Sethi said the team started the push-up celebration after seeing captain Misbah-ul-Haq doing the same. According to Sethi, the purpose of Misbah’s celebration was to show that despite being 42-years-old he was physically fit. Mr. Sethi added that the push-up celebration was coincidental. 

The PCB Executive Committee chief said the team had been informed that there should be no misunderstandings over the push-up celebration, adding that the team won test matches after this but did not do this celebration.

Najam Sethi further said some incident would take place when there were preparations to bring an international team to Pakistan. He added that there were talks underway with six-seven teams, but Pakistan was not being supported by the foreign cricket players association. According to Sethi, the insurance rate for international players was extremely high, which Pakistan was not capable of paying.

Celebration at players discretion 

After the issue was raised in the National Assembly committee meeting, Najam Sethi tweeted that sajdah/push-ups was done at the discretion of players. He added the PCB highly appreciated fitness training facilities of Pakistan Army and they had been utilised thrice in six years.

Najam Sethi also tweeted that media refrain from politicising Pakistan cricket team.