Dengue not enough to stop the PCB

Domestic T20 event to go ahead as planned.

LAHORE: Despite the rising number of dengue cases witnessed in Lahore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not planning to move the season-opening domestic Twenty20 Championship from the city.

The event is expected to attract a full house at the Gadaffi Stadium which is situated in an area declared to be a risk for the deadly disease.

The Punjab government has already ordered closing down all schools and parks in the city that are susceptible during the early and late hours of the day. Authorities have also declared an emergency situation to deal with the menace that has so far taken 4,000 people in its grasp in the province with 3,000 of them in Lahore alone.

The PCB, however, emphasised that the event will go ahead and necessary precautions will be taken including fumigating the entire stadium twice a day. But according to the health department, the usage of sprays will not help during the ongoing monsoon season and the forecasted overcast conditions will cancel out the effects of fumigation.

Meanwhile, most of the associations participating in the tournament have also shown concern. The event will also feature a team from Afghanistan and was shifted to Lahore after the original venue, Rawalpindi, was deemed unfit to host the event.

Meanwhile, the PCB has so  far not chosen to postpone the event because of the tight window during the next six months. While national squad members will add to the fan’s delight right now, postponement of the domestic tournament will reduce it to local stars.

The 14-team tournament includes Karachi Dolphins, Karachi Zebras, Lahore Lions, Lahore Eagles, Sialkot Stallions, Islamabad Leopards, Abbotabad Falcons, Rawalpindi Rams, Multan Tigers, Quetta Bears, Faisalabad Wolves, Peshawar Panthers and Hyderabad Hawks and a team from Afghanistan.

KCCA wants venue shift

The Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) has asked the PCB to shift the upcoming National Twenty20 Tournament from Lahore due to the dengue outburst. “We have serious concerns,” KCCA President Sirajul Islam Bukhari told The Express Tribune. “We’ve asked the PCB to either change the venue or postpone the tournament. If the PCB wants, we’re ready to host the event at the National Stadium.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th,  2011.