ISLAMABAD: With the main round of the Cool & Cool presents Haier T20 Cup scheduled to begin from Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) launched the competition by unveiling the event logo and introducing the bevy of eight-day mega tournament and team sponsors here on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, Intikhab Alam, PCB’s director Domestic Cricket Operations and PCB Governing Board member Shakil Shaikh, who were flanked representatives of sponsors, said the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad would enjoy the excitement T20 cricket brings.

Intikhab, while appreciating the sponsors for supporting the competing teams, assured competitive game of cricket in the event. He said that Pakistan’s T20 captain Shahid Afridi and other top players will thrill the fans with their game.

“Cricket lovers will witness great contests,” he said. “I have no doubt the people of Islamabad and Rawalpindi will make event very successful by coming to see the matches in the coming days.”

The tournament logo was unveiled by Javed Afridi, chief executive of Haier Pakistan and Rao Omar Hashim Khan on behalf of presenting sponsor Cool & Cool.

Twelve teams divided into two groups will contest the main round of the tournament which began last Tuesday with the eight-team qualifying competition which saw Karachi Blues and Bahawalpur progressing to the main round after winning their semi-finals in contrasting styles.

Bahawalpur upset Lahore Blues in the first semi-final by six wickets, while Karachi Blues were declared winners by D/L Method after their last-four fixture against Quetta was curtailed by rain late on Saturday night.

Bahawalpur are in Group ‘A’ alongside Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Karachi Whites, Hyderabad and Multan, while Karachi Blues join Islamabad, Lahore Whites, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Abbottabad in Group ‘B’.

The matches will be held at three venues — Pindi Cricket Stadium, Diamond Club Ground and Marghazar Cricket Ground.

The semi-finals are scheduled at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sept 14 with the final slated for Sept 15 at the same venue.

Meanwhile, the second semi-final of the qualifying round ended on a premature note when Karachi Blues were declared winners by 18 runs after heavy rains arrived during the Quetta innings.

At that point in time, Quetta had lost their third wicket when the heavens opened, forcing the players and umpires to rush off the field.

Quetta at 56-3 in eight overs were 18 runs behind Karachi Blues under the Duckworth-Lewis calculations. At the same stage of their innings, Karachi Blues had collected 84-2.

Earlier, Quetta skipper Jalat Khan chose to field after winning the toss. His decision backfired as discarded Test opener Khurram Manzoor returned to form with his first major knock of the tournament.

Khurram and Shahzaib Hasan provided their team a brilliant start as they added 62 inside the first seven overs when Shahzaib was dismissed by Jalat for a 17-ball 29. He slammed six boundaries.

Khurram had moved to 36 — off 28 balls with seven fours — when he was caught by Mohammad Adil off part-timer Mohibullah with the score on 73.

The stage was then set for Khalid Latif and Fawad Alam to dominate the bowling in a splendid partnership of 86 in 54 deliveries.

Khalid became Jalat’s second wicket when he was caught in the deep by Rameez Raja for a well-compiled 54 with his 39-ball knock containing eight fours and one six.

The left-handed Fawad reached exactly 50 when his 29-ball stay was ended by paceman Sher Hasan. The Pakistan batsman adorned his knock with seven fours and one six.

Jalat’s left-arm spin fetched him a third wicket when Anwar Ali was caught by Arun Lal for five.

For Quetta, wicket-keeper Bismillah Khan struck a brisk 32 from 21 balls with the help of five fours and one six.

Khalid was named man-of-the-match.

Saturday’s remaining qualifying-round result:

Second semi-final:

Karachi Blues beat Quetta by 18 runs (D/L Method).

KARACHI BLUES 184-6 in 20 overs (Khalid Latif 54, Fawad Alam 50, Khurram Manzoor 36, Shahzaib Hasan 29; Jalat Khan 3-24); QUETTA 56-3 in 8 overs (Bismillah Khan 32).

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2015

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