It’s ‘Chico’ time: Glasgow curry restaurateur ready to face ‘creme de la creme’ of lawn bowls

Mohammed Ayub Qureshi has invited Pakistan’s opponents Australia for dinner at his restaurant – whatever the result

The invitation has already been extended. Even if Australia beat Pakistan in their men’s pairs match at the Commonwealth Games, they are still welcome to dinner afterwards. There is just one small catch. “If we lose, they are still invited to the restaurant, but I will probably give them a spicy vindaloo as revenge,” Mohammed Ayub Qureshi says with a smile.

Qureshi, better known around the city’s bowls community as “Chico”, has spent decades serving food at Alishan Tandoori while also becoming Pakistan’s most recognisable lawn bowler. On Wednesday the restaurateur swaps the shirt and tie for Pakistan colours as he and his teammate Maqsood Waseem Khan face one of the toughest assignments in the sport.