Commonwealth Games: Curry power runs dry

Kelvingrove park, the setting for the lawn bowls. Picture: Robert Perry

Muzahir Shan and Mohammed Qureshi, who run a restaurant near Hampden Park, received a surprise call-up to join Maqsood Khan, the secretary of Pakistan’s Lawn Bowls Federation, to become the first men to play for Pakistan in the event.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think we’d be playing in a Commonwealth Games in our home town,” Qureshi said.

“We’ve been working together for the past 27 years, running a restaurant on the south side of Glasgow. It’s been a great partnership.”

Unfortunately they could not make the most of home advantage and the three men lost in all five of their matches, also going down to Australia, England, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

But, with their restaurant only a two-minute walk from Hampden Park, Shan joked that they will be able enjoy the closing ceremony and still make it back in time for work, where Glasgow 2014 fever has taken hold.

“Mohammed has made a few dishes for the Games,” he said.

“There’s Tikka Shot, Kormawealth and Lawn Bhuna.”

The Pakistan team still have one hope for a first bowls medal left, in the form of University of Glasgow PhD student Muhammad Shahzad, who plays in the men’s singles event on Sunday.

The 30-year-old only took up bowls three years ago, after an open day visit to Willowbank Bowling Club.

“I came to Scotland for my PhD but now when I go back home I’ll be taking a PhD, bowls and Irn-Bru,” Shahzad explained of Scotland’s infamous fizzy orange beverage.

“I’m addicted to it!”