da gbg bet： The Rs 160 million Multan Cricket Stadium (MCS) could become a whiteelephant after it was overlooked for the prestigious Patron’s TrophyGrade-I first-class competition which begins Friday
21-Sep-2001The Rs 160 million Multan Cricket Stadium (MCS) could become a whiteelephant after it was overlooked for the prestigious Patron’s TrophyGrade-I first-class competition which begins Friday.The cash-strapped tournament holds special significance because of thefact that it will be after several years that all the leadingcricketers will be appearing in the event after New Zealand’temporarily’ cancelled a scheduled tour to Pakistan because ofsecurity fears. But the irony is that Multan, undoubtedly the bestcentre after Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, will not host any of the 45matches to be played amongst 10 departments on single league basis.According to information gathered, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)were keen to allot some matches to the City of Saints. But the localadministration refused to release the venue for unexplained reasons onwhich the PCB has also invested Rs 30million.Sources further added that the PCB Under-19 Championship Grade-IIsemi-final between Multan and Sialkot also had to be shifted toSialkot because the ground was not made available.Interestingly, the PCB had said during the Asian Test Championshipfixture at Multan that it wanted to take possession of the ground on a40-year lease. Probably, it is because of this reason that it is now atug-of-war between the PCB and the local authorities.The local administration probably doesn’t realizes that if MultanCricket Stadium was not utilized, it will turn into another NiazStadium (in Hyderabad) which was once a regular centre forinternational matches but now resembles a stable.A picturesque venue like Multan deserves to be accommodated and hostcompetitive matches rather than allowing the excellent players rooms,media boxes, lush green outfield and other spectators facilities torust away.Needless to say that Multan has tremendous followers of cricket whichwas evident when spectators thronged the ground to watch even themostly one-sided Test last month against minnows Bangladesh. Bydenying the venue a first-class match means depriving the cricketstarved followers of the city an opportunity to watch top teams of thecountry lock horns in battles for honour rather than cash rewards.As regards the tournament itself, Pakistan Customs will defend thetitle they won last season after defeating National Bank of Pakistanby four wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium after conceding the firstinnings lead.But Customs seems to be the worst sufferer from the stepmotherlytreatment of the PCB when it had to dispatch its players by train toSheikhupura where it will face Wapda in the first round match. ThePCB, which has miserably failed to sell its premier competition, is inprocess of abolishing departmental cricket which has produced andlooked after budding cricketers.Sadly, Ramiz Raja, the product of the current departmental structure,is masterminding the transformation. However, Ramiz doesn’t have theanswer to where these professional cricketers will go when shutterswill fall on departments.United Bank, a former powerhouse of domestic cricket, has alreadyclosed its cricket team. With New Zealand not touring Pakistan, allthe national players have gone back to their departments which makesthis event more appealing and attractive. The additional bonusexpected to be is that some more talented players will be unearthedwho have either missed the eyes of the selectors or have beendeliberately overlooked.According to the format, there will be 12 points for an outright winwhile three will be awarded for first innings lead. With each team toplay nine league matches, it is difficult to pick a winner. ButNational Bank and PIA seem to be teams to watch after being the mostbeneficiary because of New Zealand series cancellation.First round fixtures:Sept 21-24: PIA-ABL at Saga ground, Sialkot. (umpires: Athar Zaidi andIhtishamul Haq); NBP-ADBP at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala. (umpires:Zamir Haider and Khalid Mahmood); KRL-Sui Gas at KRL Stadium,Rawalpindi. (umpires: Nazir Junior and Kamran); HBL-PPWD atBohranwali, Faisalabad. (umpires: Asad Rauf and Amin Abbasi).