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Fawad Rana announces the Durban Qalandars to the world
Fawad Rana announces the Durban Qalandars to the world
As the first edition of the T20 Global League approaches, Durban franchise owner Fawad Rana unveiled the Durban Qalandars to the media at a briefing on Friday morning.
The Durban-based franchise will make up one of the eight franchises in the newest tournament in the global T20 craze and owner Fawad Rana has drawn a number of similarities between his home town of Lahore and Durban.
"I have always loved South Africa and I have always been fascinated by its history," Rana mentioned. "The diversity of the city is something that drew me to it and I want to celebrate with the people of Durban and the province.
"The city of Durban and the province of KwaZulu-Natal have a rich history and that is very much like Lahore. "Everyone knows Cape Town and I want to try and take Durban to the world, and tell people that Durban is a city that has a huge amount to offer."
Rana's unique approach to development and his focus on developing the youth in Pakistan will benefit the growth of the game in KwaZulu-Natal and CEO of Cricket South Africa Haroon Lorgat felt that Rana's approach was well rounded.
"We didn't want to get owners in that would just offer the most money," Lorgat said. "We wanted the right people and Mr Rana's vision and passion for cricket as well as his love of providing opportunities for the youth is fantastic. "I think that Durban is fortunate in that they have a great set of owners."
One of Durban's favourite son's Hashim Amla will be back playing cricket at the ground where it all started for him and to have experienced cricket all over the world he's looking forward to a home-coming of sorts.
"When I was a teenager and when friends would say let's go and watch a game at Kingsmead, you got excited. "It was the hallowed turf of my youth and I have been fortunate enough to have played international cricket for a few years and you lose that hallowed feeling after you've played on so many grounds around the world.
"After having been away from Durban for a few years it is really exciting to come back and have Kingsmead as a home again." With his marquee player status Amla will be the source of a lot of guidance for the younger players in the team, a role that he is looking forward to fulfilling.
"Being a marquee player means that I am just one of the senior players that will be there to assist any of the younger players that need guidance.
"It is an honour really to be seen in that light and it is great to see our owners having a genuine concern for things outside of the cricket on the field," he added.
More information can be found at https://www.dolphinscricket.co.za