Pakistan team celebrates birthday of Soweto Quadruplets

JOHANNESBURG (South Africa), Jan 29: The Pakistan cricket team Tuesday showed that it was also on a tour to win the hearts of the locals besides regaining the World Cup when it visited Soweto to celebrate the third birthday of what are popularly known as "Soweto Quadruplets".

Pakistan manager Shaharyar Khan planned the trip after a local newspaper published a five-column picture on the front page of the quadruplets, with the caption: 'Soweto quadruplets celebrate their third birthday today - but it's a milestone tinged with sadness.' Their mother, Linda Mdluli (25), said at their modest Mzimhlophe home that she was the only breadwinner for 10 people. 'I'm not coping, I need a helping hand. Nobody is sponsoring me and I'm all alone'. So there will be no birthday cake, balloons or piles of brightly wrapped gifts for the Nkosi quadruplets.

Shaharyar Khan, whose gesture to take the Pakistan cricket team to schools of handicaps in India in 1999 earned a lot of praise for the team from the media and the public, organized a small birthday party for the quadruplets at their residence and carried a 10kg cake, a miniature cricket bat signed by the entire team and a cash of Rand 2000 to help the mother to take care of the children.

Not only the management sang 'Happy Birthday', they held the quadruplets in their hands - though two of the boys began to cry and went for cover! It soon became a party that was joined in by neighbours who clapped. The joy and happiness was visible in their eyes.

Shaharyar Khan, who was also accompanied by Pakistani High Commissioner Shaheen Gilani, said: "We want to make a gesture to the people of South Africa, people who have been so kind and hospitable since we arrived in South Africa.

"The joy of being among the people in Soweto, from where the great (anti-apartheid) movement started, is a great thing. Everywhere we see (Nelson) Mandela's children."

The Star newspaper, that carried a four-column picture of Shaharyar Khan on front page showing him handing over an autographed mini-cricket bat to one of the quadruplets under the headline 'Quadruplets bowled over by caring Pakistanis', said the Soweto Nkosi quadruplets were delighted by their third birthday gift: a surprise party organized by the Pakistan cricket team.

The newspaper quoted the mother of the quadruplets as saying: "I was not expecting it. I never thought there was someone out there who would give my kids such a gift."

Pakistan's gesture immediately earned praise from several quarters.

"As one of Mandela's children, I want to express my deep appreciation for the caring gesture towards an underprivileged South African lady who has quadruplets to bring up," a message on the reception desk of the team hotel read.

Another message said: "Thank you Pakistan team for your wonderful gesture. Your manager went all the way to Soweto to hand over the birthday cake to the mother of the quads. Few foreigners and diplomats even step into this township."

"Pakistan's caring attitude towards people of South Africa shows that they are not only ample stars but cricketers with a human touch," a local newspaper summed up the event.

Samiul Hasan
Media Manager
Pakistan Cricket Team
January 29, 2003