Three renowned wrestlers of the Indian Punjab are likely to visit Pakistani Punjab to compete against the host's top opponents in Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala from Nov 13 to 18.

The 'dangals' are being organised by MNA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in collaboration with the Punjab government to promote the indigenous sport in the province.

The Indian wrestlers are likely to get the visas by Monday. The process of visa has been delayed due to some hitches in security clearance.

An organizer told Dawn objections relating to the issuance of visas had been cleared and, hopefully, the Indian wrestlers would get the visas.

Indian national champion Jagroop Singh and Indian Punjab champion Shah Mohammad are two prominent wrestlers who are included in the squad. Satender Singh is the third wrestler. From the home side, the list of wrestlers is yet to be announced as organizers are awaiting the issuance of visas.

The first dangal will be held in Lahore on Nov 13, the second in Faisalabad on Nov 16 and the third in Gujranwala on Nov 18.

Earlier, the organizers had selected Bahawalpur as one of the venues which was later changed to Faisalabad.

Organizers said although Bahawalpur had more potential in wrestling than Faisalabad, the venue had to be changed because of poor response from the local government of Bahawalpur.

“We need a full cooperation from the local and the Punjab government to provide full security to Indian wrestlers, therefore, we have shifted the venue,” they said.

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Despite the political tension between Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Governor Latif Khosa, the Punjab Olympic Association (POA) has invited both of them as chief guests on the opening and closing ceremonies of the 4th Lahore Inter-School and Inter-Collegiate Games to be held in the Punjab capital from Nov 15 to 19.

POA Secretary Khwaja Idrees says the chief minister has been requested to be the guest of honour on Nov 15 and the governor on Nov 19. He says the governor has confirmed his participation while the consent from the chief minister will likely to be received in next couple of days.Khwaja Idrees, who is innovator of such games at the school and college level, said around 3,000 boys and girls of 250 schools and colleges are participating in 25 different games, except cricket.

He said the full-dress rehearsal would be organized at the Punjab Stadium on Nov 14.

For the first time, about 20 boys' schools from Sindh and 10 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also participating in the extravaganza.

Only the winners of each discipline will get a cash prize of Rs5,000 while no prize will be given to other position holders.

The overall trophy will be given separately to a school and a college which will grab maximum points.

Mr Idrees said the enthusiasm showed by educational institutions was quite encouraging as the number of participation was growing gradually.

The gala has become popular in educational institutions, especially in the private sector institutions, which is a good omen.

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The Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) is reviving the league cricket after many decades from Nov 14.

LCCA President Khwaja Nadeem says the league matches will be played at different grounds in two phases. In the first phase, all the three zones of the LCCA will hold its own matches. The LCCA will monitor all matches to avoid any controversy.

He says top 22 clubs of the three zones will qualify for the second tier of the league in which 24 teams will compete. The LCCA will select two more teams from the best individual performers of those clubs which fail to qualify for the second round.

Mr Nadeem says his body will help out the three zones financially to hold the matches. The second round of 24 teams will entirely be organized by the LCCA.

He says that Rs2.7million is expected to be incurred on the league which will continue for two-and-a-half-months.

He says all clubs have been asked to submit their entries till Nov 10 to their respective zones. He says all the clubs affiliated with three zones are to field their teams.