PM Shehbaz assures full support to Sethi over PSL 8 matches in Punjab

Sethi (R) reiterated that the PCB won’t pay the additional cost for security arrangements — FileLAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured “full support” to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi over the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight matches in Punjab. The development comes after Sethi reached out to the premier, who is also the PCB's Patron-in-Chief,  on Sunday to brief the latter about the deadlock with the caretaker Punjab government. According to sources, in his conversation with PM Shehbaz, Sethi reiterated that the PCB won’t pay the additional cost for security arrangements. He added that if the demand is not withdrawn by the Punjab government, the PCB will be forced to shift matches to Karachi. It must be noted that the PCB and the PSL franchises unanimously decided Friday not to pay an additional cost of Rs450m to the Punjab government.Meanwhile, the revised schedule, in case the matches are shifted to Karachi, has also been discussed with the franchises.The deadlock could also result in white-ball matches between Pakistan and New Zealand, in April and May, to be moved out of Punjab.On the other hand, interim Chief Minister Punjab Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi stated that the provincial cabinet is not in favour of waiving off the bill. However, a cabinet meeting was called on Saturday to discuss the matter."Last year, Rs600m were spent on security arrangements for PSL matches in Punjab," said Naqvi. "Since we are an interim setup, we don't have the authority to spend such a heavy amount. The cabinet is also against such an expenditure." According to the current schedule, Rawalpindi will stage 11 fixtures and Lahore will host nine matches.The closing ceremony, playoffs and the final will also be played in Lahore.Schedule of matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi26 Feb - Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium27 Feb - Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium1 Mar - Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium2 Mar - Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Gaddafi Stadium3 Mar - Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium4 Mar - Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium5 Mar - Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium6 Mar - Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium7 Mar - Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium8 Mar – Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 1, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium9 Mar - Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium10 Mar - Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 2, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium11 Mar - Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 3, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium12 Mar - Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium15 Mar - Qualifier (1 v 2), Gaddafi Stadium16 Mar - Eliminator 1 (3 v 4), Gaddafi Stadium17 Mar - Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1), Gaddafi Stadium19 Mar – Final, Gaddafi Stadium Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News. Comments Submit مضمون کا ماخذ:نتیجہ لوٹومینیا