LAHORE: Laptops became cumbersome for journalists covering the second T20 between Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
The main device for journalists to send their reports in time to the desk became burdensome when police at some checkpoints refused to allow anyone carrying a laptop into the Nishtar Sports Complex.
The same happened to this scribe scrambling to enter with the laptop into Gaddafi Stadium to cover the second Twenty20 International on Sunday when the policemen created unnecessary fuss.
It is a case of commonsense that the world over media personnel need laptop to email stories to their offices from the venue. But perhaps the Punjab police officials are unaware about the practice.
However, security officials later on decided to allow those media personnel having no four-wheeler to enter the venue through the central point gate instead of the PHF House gate which was the entry point for the first T20 game on Friday.
But making it to the stadium was still a hassle, for the policemen still raised objections on journalists carrying laptop at least on two out of four checkpoints.
“We have no such instruction to allow media personnel carrying their laptops.” was the reply at the second checkpoint located at the Government College, Gulberg.
Surprisingly, the policemen did not raise any objection over the laptop at the main entry.
The police attitude got softened when the PCB media department sent an official after the board was informed about hassles journalists were faced with. But despite being apprised that it was a standard practice that media personnel always carry their laptops, the police officials said they had no such instructions but this time “we are allowing you to carry it.”
Meanwhile, the cricket crazy fans of Lahore showing the same zeal and fervor as they displayed in the first T20 continued to throng the sold-out stadium for the second T20 against Zimbabwe.
Despite scorching heat with the mercury rising to 42 degrees, the spectators gathered outside the complex, making long queues at 2.30pm but as the police had not opened the entry gates fans were made to toil under the burning sun.
The entry was finally allowed at 3.30pm some three-and-a-half hours before the start of the match with the fans taking almost an hour to fill major portions of all enclosures at the stadium.
On the other hand, journalists belonging to the print media were seen come to the venue four to five hours before the start of the match while personnel of the electronic media came to the stadium some eight hours before the match.
Also, the PCB fulfilled its promises regarding facilitating the spectators sitting in the Saeed Anwar and Sarfraz Nawaz enclosures by providing water facilities there.
Moreover, some arrangements were also made by the PCB to facilitate the journalists to do their job without interruption created by overzealous fans sitting in front of the media gallery.
Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2015
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