Wasim for Confidence Walk

We recall with gratitude the grand gesture of Wasim Akram, the captain of the 1996 Cricket Team of Pakistan for rallying around with the Sri Lankan team to show solidarity by visiting Sri Lanka and playing a friendly Indo-Pakistan match against the Sri Lankan team when the western nations refused to play the world cup citing Sri Lanka as an unsecure venue to play the world cup matches.

The "Confidence Walk" is held in association with the Department of Education, Western Province under the leadership of R. A. Kularatne, Deputy Director (Physical Health Education and Sports).

Sujeewa Kuruppu - Manager, Diabetes Care of J. L. Morison Son and Jones (Ceylon) PLC - who are sponsoring the visit of Wasim Akram announced that Wasim will lead a "Confidence Walk" on November 14 on World Diabetes Day from Sports Ministry Ground (Torrington Square) to Royal College, Colombo 7. The walk is scheduled to commence at 8.30 a.m.

Sujeewa said that Wasim Akram - the brand ambassador for Accu-Check Active Blood Glucose Monitors is on a regional tour promoting the concept of "Live life the way you want" . His message to the students will be that "being a Diabetic is not an obstacle to lead a normal life" and he will tell his life story, on how he was able to become one of the best cricketers in the world and captain of Pakistan Cricket team even though being a diabetic from the age of 13 years.

Wasim a.k.a. "Sultan of Swing" was born on the June 3, 1966 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. A left arm fast bowler and a left hand batsman, he made his test debut in International Cricket on the January 25, 1985 against New Zealand and took two wickets. His first victim was J. G. Wright. From that day on he never looked back and has to his record 916 wickets, out of which 414 are test wickets and 502 one day wickets.

His career best in tests was 7 wickets for 119 runs and best one day record stands at 5 wickets for 15 runs. He has scored 2,898 runs in test cricket and 3,717 runs in one day international with his highest being 257 not out against Zimbabwe.

Wasim will lead the "Confidence Walk" from Sports Ministry Ground to Royal College Colombo 7 and at the end of the walk, would address around 1,500 students representing different sports about overcoming challenges despite drawbacks.

Wasim will also recognise 10 outstanding students who have excelled despite obstacle and hardship and will also hand out certificates to all participants with his signature.

Wasim's visit and the "Confidence Walk" is sponsored by Roche Diagnostics (India) Ltd., and M/s J. L. Morison Son & Jones (Ceylon) PLC.