International cricket greats Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi see Laing ORourke beat CoEX in Expo 2020 Dubai cricket tournament final
Supported by cricketing superstars Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi, alongside 12,000 spectators, Laing ORourke triumphed by 147 runs over CoEX Project Team in the final of the third annual Expo 2020 Dubai cricket tournament at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The famous tournament forms part of Expo 2020 Dubais approach to improve worker welfare and health, safety, quality and environment (HSQE) standards, known as Better Together a programme based on the core values of Care, Respect and Pride.
In the final of the 2019-2020 edition, previous years runners-up Laing ORourke batted first and posted an imposing total of 226 for 8 in their 20 overs and it proved too much for their opponents CoEX, who were all out for 79 Mohammed Irfan led the way for Laing ORourke, smashing a 15-ball half century on his way to a tournament-winning 76 runs off 22 balls.
World Cup-winning Indian all-rounder Singh and former Pakistan captain Afridi gave the two teams pre-match pep talks, interacted with the crowd at the time of the match and participated in the closing ceremony.
The tournaments opening draw comprised 32 teams from Expos consultants and contractors who battled it out for a chance to take home the trophy.
Yuvraj Singh said: It was good to see so an awful lot enthusiasm, involvement and love for the game of cricket. It was heartwarming to see so many people coming out to cheer on both teams and supporting the goal of the competition celebrating the workers of Expo 2020 Dubai.
Shahid Afridi said: Sport has a extraordinary capacity to bring people together, and cricket is so essential to the countries of the workers who competed and attended Friday I hope they enjoyed the day as much as I did.
Dr Rob Cooling, Vice President, Health, Safety, Quality and Environment, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: Our Better Together programme has been implemented to demonstrate the care, respect and pride we hold for the tens of hundreds of workers assisting to build Expo 2020. The annual cricket tournament is one of the methods we exhibit our appreciation and Fridays game was a fitting finale to this years competition.
