KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director domestic operations Intikhab Alam is satisfied with arrangements for holding the Regional Twenty20 Cup scheduled to be staged at the National Stadium here from Sept 17 to 28.

The event was scheduled to be held in Multan from Sept 15 but the PCB relocated the event to Karachi due to rains, floods and unavailability of security agencies in Multan.

Intikhab while inspecting arrangements for the T20 event went around the National Stadium along with General Manager Administration retired Col Ashfaq Ahmed and Senior Manager National Stadium Arshad Khan and gave necessary directives to the ground staff.

Intikhab said all five strips on which the T20 matches are to be held are in good condition, adding that practice area was also ready for net sessions.

Intikhab while rejecting any security threat in the port city said that Karachi administration had given the go-ahead signal for the competition, adding that the PCB security officer retired Col Mohammad Azam Khan was in touch with the local administration.

He further said that matches will be staged during day and night time with as many as four matches to be held on the opening day due to hectic schedule. It is important to note that 39 matches will be played during the T20 event.

Fans in order to get entry into the stadium must buy tickets, said the former national team manager, adding that schoolboys and girls will be provided free tickets.

Commenting on the domestic cricket, he said Karachi will be holding a bulk of matches in the upcoming season due to foggy conditions in Punjab.

Intikhab was accompanied among others by KCCA president Prof Ejaz Faruqi and secretary Shafiq Kazmi who assured their full support in conduct of the T20 event.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014