National One-Day Cup: Matches shifted from Karachi amid security concerns

PCB moves tie to Hyderabad, interior Sindh for players’ safety.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shifted the matches of the ongoing Faysal Bank One-day Tournament from Karachi to Hyderabad and interior areas of Sindh due to ongoing security concerns.

With the completion of the second round, several more matches were scheduled to be played here with a gap of a day each at the National Stadium and NBP Sports Complex.

The PCB officials explained that the situation was not ideal for players, who had fears of playing in the city, and thus they could not compromise on their security.

“The matches have been shifted to Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas and Ghari Khuda Bakhsh because of security reasons,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “The situation in the past few days has forced us to make the decision in the best interest of the players and hopefully people will understand.”

‘PCB’s attitude not right’

Meanwhile, a senior Karachi Regional Cricket Association member was not pleased with the move, stating the matches could have been easily played.

“Matches have been played before in worse conditions,” he said. “The PCB officials were just waiting for the opportunity to move matches. This has happened in the past as well; tournaments have been shifted from here to other cities. This isn’t a good attitude with the biggest cricket centre of Pakistan.”

Zebras outrun Leopards

Karachi Zebras registered their second win on the trot in group B after defeating Islamabad Leopards by 37 runs at the Mirpur Cricket Stadium.

Batting first, Zebras notched 318 for six as Khurram Manzoor top-scored with 114 off 123 balls with a six and 12 fours while Akbarur Rehman (85) and Faisal Iqbal (66) scored half-centuries. In reply, Leopards managed 281 for seven as Babar Azam made 57. Azam Hussain and Anwar Ali took two wickets apiece.

In another match, Peshawar Panthers were helped to a six-wicket win against Faisalabad Wolves – making 280 for four after chasing 276 – by Imran Khan’s six-wicket haul and Nawaz Ahmed’s 122-ball 167, which included three sixes and 22 strikes to the fence at the Diamond Ground.

Meanwhile, Salman Ali Agha claimed three wickets to bowl Lahore Lions to a 73-run victory against hosts Rawalpindi Rams.

In group A, Faisal Athar (61) and Rizwan Ahmed (52) scored fifties as Hyderabad Hawks stunned Dolphins, defeating them by six wickets in a low-scoring match. Elsewhere, Mohammad Ayub scored quickfire 102 not out as Stallions overwhelmed Eagles by 114 runs.

Kashif Naveed picked up three wickets to steer Tigers to a seven-wicket win against Bears at the Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2013.