Domestic season to start with T20 event

The PCB will be launching this year’s domestic season with a Twenty20 Championship starting from October 10.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will be launching this year’s domestic season with a Twenty20 Championship starting from October 10 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The seventh edition of the national Twenty20 Championship will feature 13 teams which have been placed in four groups.

“We wanted to do something different this time so we started the year’s domestic season with a Twenty20 tournament,” said PCB Chief Operating Officer (CEO) Wasim Bari. “The Championship, featuring most of our national players, will serve as preparation for the upcoming international series.”

Faisalabad Wolves were the winners of the inaugural edition of the event in 2005 with Sialkot Stallions emerging as the undisputed champions, bagging all five titles since 2006.

PCB renews sponsorship deal

The PCB has also renewed its sponsorship deal with Faysal Bank alongside.

The tournament will mark the start of the bank’s new partnership with the board after the bank took over the previous sponsors Royal Bank of Scotland.

Squads, Test captain to be named soon

Pakistan’s camp for the preparation of the South Africa series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will start from October 15 while a Test captain for the series will be announced in the next 10 days, according to Bari.

The CEO added that the PCB has completed all the necessary arrangements for the home series against South Africa in the UAE.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2010.