The event was also supposed to play a huge part in raising funds for the flood-relief campaign. However, lack of activities, including the donation bike remaining idle at the entrance, and a boycott from various officials has marred the PCB’s plans of holding a successful event off the field.
While Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah failed to turn up at the opening ceremony – both sides giving a different view to his absence – former captain Javed Miandad, too, has snubbed the event after he was sent passes for Chairman Box ‘B’ instead of A.
However, the PCB appointed tournament’s organising committee defended itself with its chief Wazir Ali Khoja, a member governing board, saying the decisions were taken to make the event successful.
“The CM advisor Haleem Adil Sheikh wanted to give the event a carnival look,” said Khoja. “However, we wanted to maintain its sanctity as a cricket event but we promised them fund-raising activities after the tournament which would’ve served well as fund-raising activities.”
Sheikh, however, said that the board was taking revenge for the forced change in venue.
“It’s a fact that the PCB didn’t want to move the tournament out of Lahore,” Sheikh told The Express Tribune. “Our efforts got Karachi the hosting rights now the PCB is taking its revenge.”
He also rejected Khoja’s remarks that the he wanted to make this event a festival.
“We were planning to arrange programmes during the intervals and in the evening, similar to what happens in the IPL. The PCB has lost the opportunity to gather huge funds for flood victims,” he said before adding the Sindh government has withdrawn as stakeholders in the event.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2011.
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