KARACHI: Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui on Saturday assured Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan of fool-proof security after the Pentangular Cup was moved from Multan to the city.

The premier one-day event of the country, which runs from Dec 31 to Jan 11, was shifted due to fog engulfing Multan, making it impossible to hold the cricket tournament there.

Shoaib said that after successfully holding the National T20 Tournament earlier this year, Karachi would also host this tournament in a successful manner.

“Local administrations will extend all the facilities to the participating teams and officials,” Shoaib told the PCB chief during their meeting in which senior manager National Stadium Karachi, Arshad Khan, was also present.

“Foolproof security arrangements will be made and we will provide everything required for the tournament to be held in a befitting manner.

“Staging such event are always a matter of great honour for the city and the people of Karachi will enjoy good cricketing action as cream of Pakistan cricketers will be at the display.”

The PCB also named Shoaib organising committee’s chairman for the tournament.

The event is being held ahead of the World Cup as the PCB wants to see the performances of some of the players before finalising and submitting the 15-member squad to International Cricket Council (ICC) by the deadline of Jan 7.

The five participating teams are Punjab Badshahs, Balochistan Warriors, Sindh Knights, Federal United and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Fighters. The top two teams emerging from the single league would qualify for the final.

Shaharyar said the he hopes the tournement will be hosted successfully.

He also added that foreign teams like China and Nepal, who are likely to visit the country in the future, will play matches in Karachi.

“By hosting these teams in Karachi, another milestone will be achieved in brining international action back to Pakistan,” said the PCB chief.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014