Independence Day T20: ‘Misunderstanding caused pitch invasion’

Organiser says confusion with broadcasters led to match abandonment.

KARACHI: Organisers of the Independence Day Festival T20 Cricket match stated that a misunderstanding between them and the broadcasters resulted in pitch invasion which caused the event to be abandoned after just one innings.

Pakistan Stars XI and Customs XI were contesting against each other on August 13, with both teams made up of star players including Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Abdur Razzaq, Inzamamul Haq, Rashid Latif, Moin Khan and others.

Customs XI made 211 for eight in 20 overs as Abdur Razzaq scored 53 with four sixes and three boundaries, while Tanvir Ahmed and Moin claimed two wickets each.

“We didn’t put up pickets as invitation cards were given to only 2,000 people,” one of the organisers told The Express Tribune. “However, due to the broadcaster’s mistake of running tickers of free entry, nearly 8,000 people were present at the ground.”

The official added that everyone involved was responsible for the chaos, while concluding that future matches such as this one should only be held at venues such as the National Stadium where grills are present to separate the players and the public.

Meanwhile, an official from the broadcaster’s side also stated that organisers should have arranged the match of this magnitude at the National Stadium where proper security measures could be taken.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2013.

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