Lancaster University’s men’s cricket first team visited partner university, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) in Lahore (April 7 to 13).

The Lancaster University team, captained by Joe Molloy, took on teams from CIIT Islamabad and CIIT Lahore first elevens in the cricket tournament before meeting Pakistan’s national U19s’ cricket team in a friendly fixture at Pakistan’s premier test cricket venue the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

The match against the U19s, filmed on Pakistan national television, resulted in, not surprisingly, a win for the home team as it included a number of potential future test stars who had recently finished second in most recent U19 World Championship.

The 20 Lancaster players were accompanied on their trip by LUSU Vice President (Activities) Emily Pollitt, LUSU Vice President (Campaigns and Communications) Rachel Harvey and Senior Policy and Strategy Officer from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office Adam Child.

Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University Professor Mark E. Smith paid a flying visit to the tournament to watch a couple of the Lancaster matches.

He said: “We are delighted to have been able to arrange this challenge with our partner institution in Pakistan. This is a great example of the University and Students’ Union working in partnership.

“It was seen as an incredibly high profile visit in Pakistan and our team and staff hugely enjoyed the experience.

“This visit was about securing even stronger ties with our global partners outside the usual academic boundaries. Sport is such a great medium through which to strengthen our relationships.”

Rachel Harvey, who covered the tournament for Lancaster University, said: “It was a very full and busy schedule, which included a press conference, dinners and sight-seeing trips. This was a great opportunity to experience life in Pakistan.”

See the opening ceremony here:

http://www.ciitlahore.edu.pk/beta/stream/day-1.aspx

A video of the closing ceremony can be found here:

http://www.ciitlahore.edu.pk/beta/stream/day-5.aspx