Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and National T20 matches to be held in Karachi, says Osama Sharoon Niazi

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Domestic Cricket Operations Osama Sharoon Niazi has said that the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and National T20 matches will be held in Karachi. Efforts will also be made to hold other domestic cricket tournaments in the city.

He warned that strict action would be taken, in line with the rules, against players who take part in tournaments held without a PCB permit.

He was speaking during a meeting with office-bearers of the Regional Cricket Association Karachi on a visit to the KCCA Stadium. The meeting discussed the promotion of domestic and club cricket in the city, the availability of grounds, the holding of tournaments and giving young players opportunities to progress.

Opportunities for young players

Osama Sharoon Niazi said steps were being taken to promote and develop cricket across the country under the patronage of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The aim, he said, was to give young and talented players as many opportunities as possible to show their skills, so that they could earn a place in the national team on the strength of good performances.

He said the PCB issued permits for various tournaments on the recommendation of regional cricket associations. Players registered with clubs should take part only in events held in line with the board’s rules, as action would be taken over participation in tournaments held without a permit.

Praising Karachi’s services to cricket, he said the city had given national cricket well-known players such as Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Moin Khan, Rashid Latif, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq, who brought honour to Pakistan with their performances. He said more steps were needed to promote cricket in Karachi and to train talented players.

Praising the KCCA Stadium, he said Nadeem Omar had developed it in an excellent manner and that it was on a par with the country’s standard cricket grounds.

Association office-bearers

RCA Karachi Secretary Ali Hussain said the association would continue to cooperate with the PCB at every level for the promotion and improvement of cricket.

Tournament Committee Chairman Khalid Nafees said that, despite a shortage of grounds in Karachi, more cricket was played in this city than anywhere else in the country. Praising the efforts of RCA Karachi President Nadeem Omar, he said cricket activities were continuing in the city because of his efforts and players were getting chances to show their abilities.

RCA Karachi Joint Secretary Muhammad Tausif Siddiqui proposed that separate time be set aside for club cricket matches, so that clubs could organise their activities better and young players could get more chances to play.

On the arrival of Osama Sharoon Niazi, zonal office-bearers, including RCA Karachi Secretary Ali Hussain, Khalid Nafees and Muhammad Tausif Siddiqui, welcomed him and presented him with bouquets. Various office-bearers of the association also put forward their suggestions at the meeting.

Later, the PCB Director Domestic Cricket Operations visited the National Bank, UBL, TMC and other cricket grounds to review cricket facilities and the condition of grounds in Karachi. RCA Karachi Coordinator Azam Khan was with him. The purpose of the visit was to review cricket activities in the city, the availability of grounds and the facilities for holding domestic matches.

Osama Sharoon Niazi thanked the RCA Karachi office-bearers for the warm welcome and expressed hope that cooperation between the PCB and the association would further promote cricket activities in the city.