KARACHI: Terming the upcoming T20 cricket series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka a good omen, Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Tuesday demanded that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) organise at least one of the matches of the highly anticipated contest in Karachi.

“This is a welcome sign that the drought of international cricket [in Pakistan] is finally ending, thus, it is high time that the country’s largest city deserves to get at least one match in the upcoming series,” said the mayor while speaking to reporters at his office.

Karachi’s famous National Stadium hosted its last ODI and Test match against Sri Lanka in January and February of 2009 in the series which proved to be Pakistan’s last exposure to international cricket when the Sri Lankan team was attacked on the third day of the Lahore Test near Gaddafi Stadium in March.

The city mayor promised a ‘foolproof’ security plan for players and officials by effectively engaging police and paramilitary Rangers if a match was awarded to the city.

He thanked the Sri Lanka cricket authorities for sending their players to Pakistan and pledged that the cricket-loving residents of Karachi would shower immense love on the visiting islanders, who, “despite what happened in the past are helping us to revive the most popular sport in the country.

“Once we host our Sri Lankan brothers, it will surely encourage other international teams to visit us in future.”

He said Karachi had been a popular venue, which had witnessed several memorable and thrilling bouts in the past. “Our sportsmanship has been praised by the rest of the world, and it is an open secret that international players felt proud to play in Karachi.”

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.