King Charles meets Pakistan cricket team, lauds country’s peace efforts

LONDON, September 2: Pakistan’s cricket team and team management met with King Charles III at the historic Clarence House gardens, where the British monarch interacted with the players and team officials and encouraged them.

Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present during the meeting.

King Charles discussed cricket with Mohsin Naqvi and also exchanged views on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism measures and efforts to maintain peace and security in the country.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott also spoke with King Charles during the meeting and highlighted the important role played by Pakistan and Mohsin Naqvi in promoting peace in the region.

King Charles encouraged the Pakistani players and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace and security.

Mohsin Naqvi described the meeting as highly useful, saying that King Charles encouraged the Pakistani players and paid tribute to Pakistan’s efforts for peace.

Naqvi later departed the United Kingdom for Pakistan following the meeting.

The royal meeting took place during Pakistan’s tour of England. According to Buckingham Palace, the engagement was part of the King’s scheduled royal programme and was arranged during the break between the second and third Tests of the Pakistan-England series.

King Charles, who is also Head of the Commonwealth, met the Pakistan men’s Test squad in the gardens of Clarence House.

It was not the first time King Charles had met the Pakistan cricket team. In 2007, when he was Prince of Wales, he met the Pakistani squad ahead of the Future Friendship Cup match between Pakistan and India in Glasgow.

Earlier, the Pakistan High Commission in London hosted a dinner in honour of the national cricket team. Pakistani players, team management, Mohsin Naqvi, diplomatic officials and prominent members of the British-Pakistani community attended the dinner. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott was also present.

The Pakistan team is currently engaged in a three-Test series against England. The meeting with King Charles was among the notable diplomatic and ceremonial engagements during the team’s tour of England.