US Consulate General Karachi Catches Cricket Fever

March 9, 2011 By in Af/Pak, Consulate General, FSOs, Public Diplomacy, Social Media, U.S. Missions

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is being played in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka between February and early April 2011. Catching on the cricket fever, the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi hosted the Youth Exchange & Study (YES) alumni for a competitive game of cricket at the CG compound. Consul General William Martin captained one team while Information Officer, Andie DeArment captained the other. The players all had spent one year living with an American family, going to an American high school, & experiencing American culture.

Photo from ConGen Karachi/Facebook
Photo from ConGen Karachi/Facebook
Photo from ConGen Karachi/Facebook
Over in Facebook, CG Karachi FB is also running a cricket-themed contest with the following invitation to its 13,000+ fans:

Tell us which team will win the cricket world cup AND tell us why it is that sports has the power to bring people together?  DEADLINE is MARCH 20th before the quarterfinals start! We can’t wait to see your predictions and hear why sports is important in your lives and around the world!  Winners will be chosen after the winner of the world cup through a random drawing and will receive a Pakistan cricket jersey, cricket equipment, as well as some American sporting goods

Read more here.
The YES program is officially called the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program and was established in October, 2002. It is sponsored and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to provide scholarships for high school students (15-17 years) from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the U.S. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. In 2007, YES Abroad was established to provide a similar experience for U.S. students (15-19 years) in selected YES countries.  Read more here.  If you are a family in the U.S. and interested in hosting a student from a specific country, click here.

Related articles