Karachi to host T20 series against Windies next month

DUBAI: Karachi has long been ignored when it came to hosting international cricket matches at home.But not any more.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s cricket chief Najam Sethi announced, loud and clear, that the country’s biggest city will not just play host to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) finale on March 25 but will also be the venue for a three-match Twenty20 International series against a visiting West Indies team next month.

“I have to give you some good news,” Sethi said at a handing-over ceremony of the PSL trophy here at the Dubai International Stadium.

“Everybody was asking me as to why we weren’t putting tickets for the West Indies series on sale. I’ll tell you why. I have been working day and night to conclude an agreement with the West Indies cricket board. I finally did it an hour ago. The good news is that West Indies will play three matches in Pakistan on April 1,2 and 4 but these matches will be played in Karachi,” he said, receiving an applause from the audience.

“They will play in Karachi and not in Lahore. That’s how we will put Karachi back on the international cricketing map,” he said.

“The people of Karachi should welcome this news. The people of Pakistan should welcome this news,” he stressed.

According to the plan, the three T20 International matches will be played at the newly-renovated National Stadium in Karachi on April 1, 2 and 4.

Asked whether the matches in Karachi were subject to security issues, Sethi said that the agreement has been signed.

“We have contracted the ICC security people for the series against West Indies. Their expert will stay back for a week after the PSL final to oversee the T20 series. That’s part of our agreement with the West Indies board.”

Sethi said that the three-match series will be a one-off event.“This series will be one-off. But we have a separate agreement with the West Indies board according to which we will have a tri-nation tournament in the United States for five years involving Pakistan West Indies and one more country. It could be Bangladesh or some other country.

Sethi said that PCB was making all out efforts to take the PSL to Pakistan.

“It’s our mission to take PSL to Pakistan ASAP. What does ASAP mean? Well it could be next year or a year after that. We are trying our best. I’ve told my infrastructure department to ready the Pindi Stadium and National Stadium in Karachi. The stadiums in Lahore and Multan are already ready.”

Sethi also urged an end to speculations regarding the PSL final in Karachi.“The stadium in Karachi will be ready for the PSL final. Some people say that the Chairman’s Box is not ready. No problem. I will sit outside so will the VIPs. The match will be held in Karachi so please stop the speculations,” he said.“The PSL trophy is going to Karachi and not to Lahore on the 25th.