KARACHI: The 10 fifth round matches in the ongoing RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship are overshadowed by tragic events in Rawalpindi as several players have expressed their reluctance to play.

Owing to the prevailing situation in the northern parts of the country, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier shifted some of the matches to other cities to ensure the tournament goes ahead smoothly.

But following Monday’s blasts in Rawalpindi which resulted in 35 deaths, a number of players who are scheduled

to play on Tuesday in crucial Group ‘A’ fixtures at the KRL Stadium and Marghzar Ground in Islamabad are feeling uneasy about playing their matches at these venues.

One star player, who wished not to be identified, said since the incident took place near the team’s hotel, he and his team-mates were feeling insecure and have requested the PCB to shift the matches elsewhere with immediate effect.

‘We do want to play the matches because we are committed to. But in the prevailing circumstances, we would urge the cricket board to address the players’ concerns because our families want us to head home immediately,’ another player remarked.

A host of current and former Pakistan players are expected in the twin cities on Tuesday. Habib Bank and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) meet at the Marghzar Ground — which is not that far away from Rawalpindi — with stars such as Imran Nazir, Sohail Tanvir, Taufiq Umar, Hasan Raza, Danish Kaneria and Abdur Rehman likely to be in action.

Hosts KRL entertain current Group ‘A’ leaders Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at the KRL Stadium where the likes of Misbah-ul-Haq, Yasir Arafat, Mohammad Hafeez, Bazid Khan and Mohammad Wasim are scheduled to play.

Despite the Rawalpindi tragedy, a senior PCB official confirmed late on Monday that the two matches will go ahead as per schedule.

The other three Group ‘A’ matches, including the clash between the high-flying PIA and Wapda at the Gaddafi Stadium as well as the five Group ‘B’ fixtures remain unaffected although there are two further matches scheduled in the federal capital with Rawalpindi playing Peshawar at the National Ground and Islamabad hosting Faisalabad at the Diamond Club Ground.

However, unlike the players representing the departments, the cricketers of region teams have not yet commented on the situation in Rawalpindi.

Schedule (Nov 3-6):

Group ‘A’: PIA v Wapda (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore); Habib Bank v ZTBL (Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad); KRL v SNGPL (KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi); Lahore Shalimar v Pakistan Customs (Lahore Country Club, Muridke); National Bank v SSGC (Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad).

Group ‘B’: Karachi Blues v Multan (National Stadium, Karachi); Islamabad v Faisalabad (Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad); Lahore Ravi v Hyderabad (LCCA Ground, Lahore); Rawalpindi v Peshawar (National Ground, Islamabad); Sialkot v Quetta (Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot).