RAWALPINDI -  Hussain Talat helped Lahore Blues beat Lahore Whites by one run in the Brighto Paints present Cool & Cool T-20 Cup 2017-18, which started here at Pindi Stadium Saturday.

Chasing a target of 170, Lahore Whites, required 12 to win in the last over and Talat was picked ahead of Hafeez to bowl the final over. The youngster kept his cool and despite bowling a wide delivery, managed to contain Whites for 10 runs in the final over. Required three runs for victory on the final delivery, Aamir Yameen failed to hit the ball, as Hussain rushed towards dressing room to celebrate his teams’ victory.

Sami Aslam led the superb batting display from Lahore Whites with unbeaten 91 consisting 10 fours and three sixes but failed to achieve victory. Sami Aslam was named player of the match. M Aamir, who bowled superbly was badly injured, when a full-blooded Aamir Yameen drive hit his right shin. It could be end of the tournament for the pacer as he limped off the pitch. Aamir picked up 2 for 24. Ghulam Mudassar also took 2 for 33.

Lahore White run-chase got off to worse possible start, as opener Kamran Akmal was cleaned up by speedster Aamir on the second delivery while skipper Salman Butt was bowled for only 4 and Umar Akmal was also went back to pavilion after scoring just a single. Raza Ali Dar, gave some momentum to Whites batting, but he too got out after scoring 40, consuming 34 deliveries, hitting 4 boundaries and two sixes, 

Earlier, Lahore Whites skipper Salman Butt won the toss and opted to field first, Lahore Blues managed to post 169-5. Opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was batting stylishly before being run out after scoring 44. He also got a charmed life as he was dropped at 33 by Bilal Asif but no damaged was done to Whites as Imam needlessly threw his wicket away while trying to steal an almost impossible single. Blues were all set to post a decent total, but some rash strokes, followed by run out of Imam didn’t help their cause, as they kept on losing wickets when it matters most. Skipper Hafeez made 35 and Babar Azam 33. Babar was playing exceptionally well and was timing the ball but he also simply gifted his wicket trying to hit the ball out of the park. Bilal Asif, Aamir Yameen and Asif Ali shared a wicket each conceding 20, 29 and 30 runs, respectively. 

Earlier, Faisalabad Region shocked Karachi Region Whites, with thumping eigght-wicket victory thanks mainly to youngster Sahibzada Farhan and Gohar Ali, who provided 108 runs opening stand to pave the way for emphatic Faisalabad victory. Fahan hammered unbeaten 76, consuming 52 deliveries. He hit 6 boundaries and 4 towering sixes while Gohar Ali contributed quick-fire 70, studded with 10 boundaries and 3 massive hits over the ropes as Faisalabad chased down the required 181 runs target in 18.2 overs losing just two wickets. Sahibzada Farhan was named player of the match for his outstanding batting.

Earlier, Saeed Ajmal won the toss and invited Sarfraz XI to bat first. Karachi Whites posted decent 180-5 in allotted overs. Karachi got off to decent start as openers Khurram Manzoor and Asad Shafiq posted 61 runs for the opening stand. Akbar-ur-Rehman top scored with stylish 60, hitting 4 boundaries and 3 sixes while Khurram Manzoor made 55. Haris Sohail 28 and Asad Shafiq 27 were other notable scorers. Faheem Ashraf took 3 for 36. Interestingly, Faheem took all his victims in his last over.

In the first match today, Fata take on Peshawar at 12:00pm, while it will be battle royal as Rawalpindi faces Islamabad in day-night match at 4:00pm.

Thin crowd and zero facilities:As per expectations, it was highly thin crowd at the venue due to sit-in of a religious party in the city as all the roads leading to Rawalpindi and Islamabad are completely closed and spectators were finding it really difficult to get tickets to enter the venue. Firstly, the PCB should have announced free entry to ensure masses come in numbers. Secondly, ground administration put the lives of players, officials and masses under tremendous threat as loud music was aired, which could have attract activists but no heed was paid despite making repeated requests to stop music as there was no one who could act as PCB officials, were busy in providing protocol to newly-appointed adviser to PCB Chairman Shakil Shaikh, who along with an army of near and dear ones enter the stadium. The PCB and local regions don’t have passes for masses but they had not forget to oblige their blue-eyed ones, who were not only provided chairman box passes, VVIP passes, free meal, but tea and other facilities as well.

Pindi Stadium had an army of employees including manager, assistant manager and hardly events were held at this very venue. But this army of PCB employees, who enjoy perks and privileges without doing any job, failed to ensure proper washrooms with water for masses. Even the journalists made several request to Shoukat Jadoon, manager Pindi Stadium to provide water in the highly filthy washrooms but all went to the deaf ears. Tournament organising committee chairman Haroon Rasheed doesn’t bother to arrive in Rawalpindi, as he has other important areas to look after.

It is high time the PCB Chairman should open his eyes and rather than relying on same old used bullets, he should personally look after the issues of grave importance and announce free entry at general stands to ensure crowd presence or else empty stands will witness the super stars of Pakistan cricket in action.

The PCB never kept in mind that already a number of top players are applying their trade in Bangladesh Premier League, while remaining top stars will leave for Lahore today for Pakistan Super League auction and number of teams will be without their key players. Smog also turns towards Rawalpindi, as it was hard to even think about conducting matches late night. The PCB advisers never had the knowledge of ground based facts as they only know drawing room politics.