TOBA TEK SINGH: The District Cricket Association’s bid to get recognition as an independent entity has not borne fruit despite intervention by the Lahore High Court.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) executive board of governors chairman has yet to comply with the LHC order regarding the request of Toba DCA’s playing right. Currently, its players use the platform of Jhang’s body.

DCA President Qazi Abdul Salam Arif told newsmen on Sunday that a petition was filed in the LHC by Gojra cricketer Azhar Awais. Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf had issued an order on Feb 24 that the PCB executive board of governors chairman as respondent should provide proper opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and then decide the matter under the law within 30 days.

Toba cricket body hankers after recognition

Mr Arif said the copy of the order was sent to the chairman but the petitioner had not been called for hearing even after two months. He said the Toba DCA had been trying to earn right to play but it had been forced to send its players for playing PCB tournaments through Jhang DCA.

He said Toba’s player Ihsan Adil had represented the national team in tests, one day and World Cup matches while there was not a single player from Jhang having this status. He said more than 25 Toba DCA players had played the Quaid-i-Azam trophy grade one matches and there were many others who had played grade two matches.

He said almost a decade ago PCB’s domestic cricket chief Shafiq Pappa had visited Toba and he had not only praised the talent of cricket in the district but also promised that he would ensure their right of play within two years.

The PCB, he said, had spent more than Rs1 million on the construction of turf-pitch at the Toba sports stadium and other facilities but denial of right of play was depriving the local talent of gaining prominence.

HOCKEY: Pakistan Olympic Association Secretary-General Khalid Mahmood has said he will recommend to the POA president to give scholarships and opportunity to play in international tours to the hockey players associated with Gojra’s Rasheedul Hasan Hockey Academy.

During his visit to Gojra on Sunday as chief guest at a hockey match played between teams of Rasheedul Hasan Academy and The Gojra Club, he said the academy was helpful in nurturing talent and producing players capable of competing at international level.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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