Pakistani cricket stars headed to Birmingham to highlight the plight of the humanitarian crisis in their country.
Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan were visiting to the ICC on Monday evening to kick-off a week-long tour of major UK cities in aid of Birmingham-based charity, Islamic Relief.
The pair spoke about the plight of people in the Swat valley, in the north west of Pakistan, who have been displaced from their homes because of ongoing conflict.
Islamic Relief is now hoping to raise £500,000 with a tour of the players around Britain, to help bring aid to people there, particularly around the time of Ramadan.
Shahid Afridi said: “Winning the World Cup has given Pakistanis worldwide cause for celebration.
“But Younis and I now need support to spread that celebration and joy to the desperately needy people of the Swat Valley.”
Habib Malik, an Islamic Relief aid worker, who has just returned from the north west of Pakistan, said: “While the crisis in Pakistan is no longer at the forefront of most people’s minds here in the UK, unfortunately the immense problems face by the people there have not gone away.
“The families I met who are still displaced are all desperate to return home in time for Ramadan, but are becoming increasingly worried that this will not be possible.”
