LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board authorities have requested Punjab government to provide security for the Faysal Bank Twenty20 Cup to be played in three different grounds of City from December 2-10, it has been learnt.
The PCB authorities have sent letter on late Saturday seeking security for the Faysal Bank Twenty20 Cup to be held in Gaddafi Stadium, Bagh-e-Jinnah and LCCA ground, a source revealed.
Earlier, the mega event was scheduled to be held in National Stadium Karachi and two other grounds but due to security concern the National Twenty20 Cup was shifted to Lahore without keeping the prevailing situation in the city. The tournament could be held in Karachi in a better way if PCB authority talk to CM Sindh Qaim Ali Shah for the provision of security for the players and the tournament. As earlier the Sindh Sports Minister MA Shah had hosted an International World XI for two Twenty20 matches in a befitting manner and local crowd made the tournament a success.
Prior to shifting of tournament to Lahore the PCB authorities should have to take the Punjab government and concerned persons into confidence for holding tournament in three different grounds of city.
As many as 14 teams of the country will participate in the event while the last year’s winners Sialkot Stallions would defend its title.
The top Pakistan stars like Younus, Misbah, Hafeez, Yousuf, Afridi, Junaid Khan, Malik, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Razzaq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Raza Hasan, Sarfaraz Ahmed and many others will show their skills to catch the eyes of selectors for their selection in the national team.. Those players who could prove their credentials will surely book their places in the Pakistan national team that is going to visit India from December 25 to January 7 and for the South Africa tour to be started in January 2013.
Meanwhile, the interior minister Rehman Malik has promised with the PCB chief Zaka Ashraf regarding provision of security for the T20 Cup and said that he will talk to Punjab provincial government for provision of the security for the national Twenty20 tournament.