‘Special’ guests preferred over senior media personnel
By Our Sports Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 26: Even though the popular Twenty20 Cup has become an instant hit with large number of cricket fans turning out, as witnessed in the two championships held in Karachi, the organisers still have a lot to learn when it comes to dealing with the media.
This season’s tournament was no exception because the sponsors — ABN-AMRO Bank, who again took the organisational matters in their own hands — failed miserably since they completely overlooked the requirements of the media people.
Two senior reporters belonging to the oldest national dailies got the shock of their lives during Monday’s semi-finals when they found no proper place to sit and cover the event.
Despite indicating their identities, they were told to sit elsewhere since the particular enclosures were meant only for the sponsors’ guests.
Agitated by this sudden development, the reporters gave up any hope of covering the event and left the stadium in protest.
While the sponsors cared little for the media, they left no stone unturned by making sure their ‘special’ guests were properly looked after and provided with the best available seats at the stadium.