NSK work to be done by Feb 15, says Sethi

KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi has claimed that work at National Stadium would be completed by February 15, well ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Karachi.

“We are endeavouring to complete the repair work at National Stadium by February 15. Even if it gets delayed and is completed by March 15, we will be able to host the final on March 25,” Sethi told reporters here at National Stadium on Sunday.

However, to a question he said that the PCB also had a plan B for hosting the final. “Definitely the plan-B is very much there. If there is any issue then the final will be held in Lahore where two matches are already scheduled to be held,” Sethi said.

The uplift work at the National Stadium is in progress. A few days ago Sindh Governor visited the venue and told media that the stadium would be ready for the showpiece.“During our busy schedule we held meetings with the Chief Minister and Commissioner Karachi, home secretary. We also had Col Azam and Col Usman with us. The meetings were very productive in which we discussed various important issues,” Sethi said.

“I am happy with the response I received from Sindh government,” he added.To a question Sethi said it was not the case that Pakistan had bowed before India regarding the FTP. “It’s not that we have let ourselves down. But you know that there is no game better than an India-Pakistan game and it is our right and we should fight for it. It’s an issue of 100 or 150 million dollars,” Sethi said.

He said that India wants to host the Asia Cup and the BCCI had also asked its government for permission. “But the government has not yet given it permission. We have also tried to hold the Emerging Asia Cup and both matters are pending,” he said.

He said that Pakistan earned 400,000 dollars through the T10 League in the UAE. Sethi further said that successful hosting of PSL 3 final in Karachi would send a positive message to the world and the notion that Karachi was a dangerous city would be busted. “This is an issue of national interest,” he said.