ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL
RAWALPINDI (October 9, 2020):-The second phase of the National T-20 Cricket Super Cup kicked off here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, where an empty international cricket ground welcomed the top national players because common people were was allowed to enjoy the game of cricket in the stadium owing to Covid-19 pandemic. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had postponed the PSL due to breakout of coronavirus across the county. Now, rest of the PSL matches will be played in November at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
International cricket stadium Pindi has capacity of over 15000 spectators but the seats are empty and covered with the advertising banners all around the stadium. Today corona pandemic is a wet blanket not only for Pakistan but for all over the world. Despite uncontrolled circumstances, cricket controlling authorities took a great and an appreciable step after starting the National T-20 Cricket Cup 2020. No doubt, all credit for this initiative goes to Chairman PCB Eshan Mani and his team. PCB became the first cricket board in the world that chalk-out the domestic cricket season 2020-21.
National T-20 commenced on September 30, 2020 at Multan Cricket Stadium Multan in which including defending champions Northern six top national teams are showing their muscles. It was a bitter taste for the cricket lovers, who are not able to watch their heroes in stadiums and clam in the stadium also bites the handful people of media and officials. The final will be played on October 18, 2020 at Pindi Cricket Stadium under the floodlights behind the door. People will enjoy the game at home on TV screen and will back their heroes too.
It’s good, there is no large number of check posts of different intelligence agencies, as the local people are moving easily without any restrictions, which they were facing during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Test matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh few months back in the beginning of year 2020. The support the surrounding areas people was also great, as their support helped the Pakistan to restore international cricket, which was halted the Lahore incident in which Sri Lankan players targeted by the terrorists in March 3, 2009.
