Karachi
Parliamentary Secretary for Inter Provincial Coordination Syma Nadeem Monday informed the National Assembly that about 36 players from 6 different international member boards will take part in the upcoming 5th edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Responding to a question during ‘Question Hour’ she said, ‘As the situation is improving we are expecting more countries and their players to tour Pakistan. Approximately 36 players from 6 different international member boards will be in Pakistan to take part in the upcoming 5th edition of PSL for the year 2020.’
She said issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOCs) to players by any country was not related to the country’s bilateral tour.
Responding to another question, she said issuance of NOC’s to Pakistani players were only for the tournaments approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) or its affiliated members.
She said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had recently revised its NOC policy for its players, which allowed players to play a maximum of 3 leagues out of Pakistan keeping in view the players workload.
Responding to another question, she said selection of players in the team was the responsibility of the selection board not the ministry. Squash legend Jahangir Khan will bring the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 trophy at the National Stadium Karachi on Wednesday for its first ever unveiling ceremony on the Pakistani soil.
Jahangir, in an international-styled ceremony, will carry the silverware to the field of play and hand it over to the defending champions Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed after which the brand new trophy will be unveiled by PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani in the presence of six franchise owners and captains.
Jahangir said: ‘It will be truly a remarkable moment for me to play a role in the unveiling of the PSL 2020 trophy. I am looking forward to the ceremony.
‘The PCB has done a wonderful job in the resumption of top-flight cricket in the country and the success of the PSL is going to send a profound message to the world that Pakistan is safe. I hope that with the success of this event, international teams belonging to other sports will also travel to Pakistan and this will spark a sporting culture which we have been missing over the last few decades.’
Jahangir holds a record for the longest winning streak for any sportsman with 555 consecutive wins over almost six years.
PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: ‘It is befitting that a sporting great like Jahangir Khan will bring the trophy to the ceremony to mark the momentous occasion, which will see an entire HBL PSL season being held in Pakistan.’
As many as 350 artists will perform in the opening ceremony of the HBL PSL 2020, which will be held on February 20 at Karachi’s National Stadium.
The metropolitan city is expected to be set alight as artists from different music genres – Sufi, pop, rock, bhangra and folk – will come together to perform at what will be the biggest opening ceremony in the history of the HBL PSL.
Thousands of fans in the stadium will be on the edge of their seats and millions around the globe will be glued to their television sets as world renowned artists like Abrar-ul-Haq, Aima Baig, Abu Mohammad, Fareed Ayaz, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sajjad Ali, Sanam Marvi and rock band Soch will embellish the ceremony with their breath-taking performances, while Ali Azmat, Arif Lohar, Haroon and Asim Azhar will perform HBL PSL 2020’s anthem “Tayyar Hain”.
The glittery ceremony, which will be held before the opening match of the tournament between defending champions Quetta Gladiators and two-time champion Islamabad United, will also include riveting acts and a spectacular fireworks show.
PCB Director – Commercial, Babar Hamid, said here on Monday : “It is only befitting that a grand and glamorous opening ceremony is held to welcome Pakistan’s very own HBL PSL in the country. We have brought together all the top artists in the country to set the tone of what will be an epic tournament.”
The ceremony, which will be approximately an hour long, will kick-off at 6.45pm.
The toss for the first match will be held at 8.30pm, while the much-anticipated first ball of the HBL PSL 2020 will be delivered at 9pm.
The law enforcement agencies reviewed the security arrangements ahead of the upcoming event of Pakistan Super League (PSL) final scheduled to be held on February 20 at National Stadium, Karachi.
A high level meeting held at the Headquarters of Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Monday was chaired by Director General Rangers Major General Omer Ahmed Bhukari while high ups of various security agencies also participated in the meeting, said a statement on Monday.
The meeting decided to make better coordination between security agencies and also made a joint comprehensive security plan for the big event in the metropolis.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani, Additional IGP Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon and DIGPs of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), Traffic Karachi and Zones, officers of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) and Rangers Sindh.
The Rangers has also appealed to the public to report any criminal or anti-state activity to the nearest Check Post of the Rangers or Helpline ‘1101’.—APP
