National T20 Cup logo unveiled

LAHORE: Under a new format, the Cool & Cool Presents Jazz National T20 Cup begins with the first phase in Rawalpindi from Wednesday, while the second phase of the tournament will be held in Multan from Sept 5 to Sept 11.

Chairman of the PCB Cricket Committee Shakil Sheikh, who unveiled the T20 Cup logo at the National Cricket Academy, when asked both Lahore and Karachi had been ignored for the last many years as host of the T20 tournament, said better response from the people of Rawalpindi and Multan was one of the reasons behind the decision to stage it there, besides the PCB had to consider other aspects including security.

And when asked the timing of the tournament was not ideal as several top cricketers would be missing of international commitments, Shakil said there was no other window available in the season to hold the T20 Cup.

To a question that a stay order had also been given over media rights issues by an honourable court, and how the sponsors would deal with the PCB in the wake of the said stay order, Shakil said it was not in his domain since marketing department was dealing with legal matters. Interestingly, no high official of the PCB marketing department was seen at the logo ceremony which was represented a good number of sponsors.

Although top eight first-class cricket playing regional teams would be competing but the players for each side were selected through a player draft last month on the pattern of the Pakistan Super League.

“This system will provide very competitive cricket as every team is equally strong and it was also the demands of the sponsors that one-sided affairs matches do not serve the purpose of the sponsors,” Shakil said.

He said so far very good response from the people of Multan had been received as they were too much excited about hosting the final round of the tournament.

After the first phase concludes in Rawalpindi on Sept 2, the next phase will be held in Multan from Sept 5, while Multan will also stage both the semi-finals and final after a four-day break for Eid-ul-Azha from Sept 15.

All competing teams have been allocated a sponsor as under:

Brighto Paints Lahore Blues, Audionic Lahore Whites, J. Junaid Jamshed Karachi Blues, Golden Pearl Peshawar, Super Asia Rawalpindi, Dany Tech Karachi Whites, Audionic Fata, Servis Tyres Islamabad.

Schedule:

Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi:

Aug 25: Karachi Whites vs Karachi Blues; Lahore Whites vs Lahore Blues

Aug 26: Islamabad vs Peshawar; Rawalpindi vs Fata

Aug 28: Karachi Whites vs Peshawar; Lahore Whites vs Islamabad

Aug 29: Lahore Blues vs Fata; Karachi Blues vs Rawalpindi

Aug31: Karachi Whites vs Lahore Whites; Lahore Blues vs Karachi Blues

Sept 1: Peshawar vs Fata; Islamabad vs Rawalpindi

Sept 2: Lahore vs Peshawar; Karachi Whites vs Islamabad

Multan Cricket Stadium:

Sept 5: Lahore Whites vs Rawalpindi; Karachi Blues vs Fata

Sept 6: Lahore Whites vs Karachi Blues; Karachi Whites vs Lahore Blues