LAHORE, Nov 30: Sialkot Stallions under Shoaib Malik seek to annex the title for the seventh time as they face Islamabad Leopards in their opening match at the ninth Faysal Bank National Twenty20 Cup that explodes into action at three different venues here on Saturday.
With the introduction of dope testing and inclusion of new Bahawalpur Region (with a team titled ‘Bahawalpur Stags’) in the fold, the tournament featuring 14 teams from 12 regions of the country gets added significance.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s short yet high-profile limited-overs series tour to India starting later this month raises the importance of National T20 Cup.
Players’ performance in the premier national T20 contest will remain under the selectors’ observation for picking the side for the Indo-Pak series.
The Stallions, who last year also won a Super Eight format competition of this most popular PCB-organised domestic event, willbe vying to annex the title for a record seventh time.
They clinched the titles five times in a row — from 2005-06 to 2010 — before Lahore Lions stopped their winning streak in 2011.
However, last year the Stallions made a resounding comeback claiming both the T20 Cup and its Super Eight episode to stamp their supremacy once again.
After winning the inaugural edition of the T20 Cup in 2004-05, Faisalabad Wolves could not achieve any more success.
While the Stallions will be opening their campaign with match against the Leopards at the picturesque Bagh-i-Jinnah ground on Saturday, later in the day’s another match at the same venue, Rawalpindi Rams, the 2011 Super Eight champions, will take ondebutants Bahawalpur Stags.
Also on Saturday, Karachi Dolphins clash with Peshawar Panthers at the LCCA ground where later Lahore Eagles meet Hyderabad Hawks.
Multan Tigers play Quetta Bears at the Gaddafi Stadium where later Lahore Lions will challenge Karachi Zebras.
Besides Malik, other renowned cricketers like Mohammad Yousuf (Lahore Lions), Shahid Afridi (Karachi Dolphins), Younis Khan (Abbottabad Falcons), Misbah-ul-Haq (Faisalabad Wolves) and Taufiq Umar (Lahore Eagles) will also lead their teams inthe T20 Cup.
Meanwhile, the PCB in a press release announced that it was introducing ‘in-competition’ dope testing in domestic circuit during this National T20 Cup.
“The PCB in order to strive for drug-free sports and to protect the basic framework of protection of athletes’ basic right to participate in doping-free sport and thus promote health, fairness and equality for cricketers nationwide, has introduced thisin-competition dope testing.
“The step has been taken to bring [Pakistan’s] domestic cricket at par with other Test-playing countries,” the press release said.
“The PCB during the last domestic season educated approximately 500 first-class cricketers on the subject of doping. Theplayers were educated and made aware of the rules and regulations related to doping through lectures.
“They were also provided with an Urdu guide, updated list of banned drugs and a compact disk (CD) for revision of doping education,” the PCB release added.
“Cricketers from all the regional teams participating in the T20 Cup will be picked randomly for dope testing.
“These tests will be conducted by WADA-accredited independent doping control officers throughout the competition,” the press release concluded.
Meanwhile, the Australian-made Kookaburra balls are being used in the T20 Cup, instead of Grace balls used in the ongoing President’s Trophy.
In the meantime, the local district government announced that around 1,000 police personnel will be deployed at the three venues to ensure safety and security of players, officials and fans.
Groups:Group ‘A’: Lahore Lions, Karachi Zebras, Sialkot Stallions, Islamabad Leopards, Abbottabad Falcons, Multan Tigers, Quetta Bears.
Group ‘B’: Karachi Dolphins, Lahore Eagles, Rawalpindi Rams, Faisalabad Wolves, Peshawar Panthers, Hyderabad Hawks, Bahawalpur Stags.
Today’s matches:At LCCA ground: Karachi Dolphins v Peshawar Panthers; Lahore Eagles v Hyderabad Hawks.
At Bagh-i-Jinnah ground: Rawalpindi Rams v Bahawalpur Stags; Sialkot Stallions v Islamabad Leopards.
At Gaddafi Stadium: Multan Tigers v Quetta Bears; Lahore Lions v Karachi Zebras.