Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Qatar invites ’83, ’11 cricket world champs for 2022 World Cup

- Press Trust of India sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

MUMBAI: A senior official associated with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has invited members of India’s cricket World Cup winning teams of 1983 and 2011 to the middle-eastern nation for football’s quadrennia­l showpiece in 2022.

Admitting that cricket was a big sport in India, Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar organising committee, extended the invitation to the members of winning squads of the two cricket World Cups.

“It is safe to say that this World Cup (in Qatar in 2022) is for all of us to celebrate. I think I have to say, we look forward to welcoming you there (in Qatar),” he said at an awards function here over the weekend.

“I did not realise how big cricket was in India, so I know that there are some members from the 1983

World Cup winning team, that beat the West Indies, are here (at the awards function), and there are members from the team that won the (cricket) World Cup in 2011. I extend you a special invitation to come and attend the football World Cup in Qatar,” Khater said.

FOOTBALLER­S INVITED He also extended a special welcome to footballer­s from India.

The 1983 team, which won the cricket World Cup, was led by the legendary allrounder Kapil Dev, while the side that emerged victorious in the 2011 edition was captained by charismati­c wicket-keeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is tentativel­y scheduled to be held from November 21 to December 18 of that year.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? The victorious MS Dhoni-led World Cup team. Qatar organisers have also invited the Indian football team.
GETTY IMAGES The victorious MS Dhoni-led World Cup team. Qatar organisers have also invited the Indian football team.

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