KARACHI:
While international cricket has been reviving slowly and gradually in Pakistan, the visit of a full-fledged South African team to the country is a sign of success of the efforts of cricket board being made over the years for bringing international cricket back to local venues. The tour — comprising two Tests and three T20 international games — has already started with the first test in progress in Karachi. While the matches are being played in empty grounds, there is great enthusiasm among sports lovers who have been satiating their craze for cricket watching the match on television.
While it’s good to see local sports venues coming alive with top level cricket, a match in Karachi’s National Stadium results in a big traffic mess. Indeed, there has been a traffic diversion plan, but is always not enough to make up for the ensuing disturbance on roads. While some of the road like Stadium Road and Karsaz Road are totally closed for traffic, those in the vicinity like Shara-e-Faisal and University Road also get affected. And the spillover goes pretty far and wide.
While we do want cricket and cricketers to flourish in Pakistan and built a positive image for the nation, we also request the authorities concerned to come up with a solution to the traffic disturbance due to cricket.
Hala Batool
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2021.
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