Rawalpindi, Nov. 27 (TNS): The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the new dates for postponed semi-finals and final of the National T20 Cup because of the prevailing situation of religious unrest in Pakistan.
Now the semifinals will be played on 29th November and final match will be played on 30th November 2017”. The National T20 Cup Lahore Whites were scheduled to compete with Faisalabad in the first semifinal, while FATA face Lahore Blues in the other clash, the both semifinals were originally scheduled on November 26, but they were called off as the protests began to widen and escalate.
Meanwhile the sources closed to semifinalist teams disclosed that’’ the managements of both semifinalist National T20 Cup Lahore Whites , Lahore Blues team’s suggest to shift the semifinal and final to Qadafi Stadium Lahore due to security issues where the mostly Lahore teams players are residing , where the recent T20Is against Sri Lanka and an ICC-sanctioned World XI took place.
The National T20 Cup was shifted from Faisalabad due to ‘’heavy smog’’ has faced several hindrances this year. Earlier, it had clashed with the ICC World XI’s trip.
When it was rescheduled, its dates clashed with the Bangladesh Premier League and the now-postponed Global T20 League in South Africa. Even then, smog in Faisalabad and Multan meant it had to eventually be relocated to Rawalpindi once and for all.
The scheduling of the National T20 Cup created uncertainty on other fronts as well. In August, the board revoked the No-Objection Certificates of 13 players participating in the Caribbean Premier League and the English domestic season, asking them to return home and fulfill national and domestic commitments.
However, a few days later, PCB chairman Najam Sethi said the National T20 Cup had been postponed and the players could return to their franchise sides and counties after undergoing fitness tests. The protests spread throughout the country. The access to social media sites Facebook, Twitter and YouTube was remains suspended across the country. Due to the prevailing situation, the PCB management early a announced to postpone the semi-finals and final on other day. National T20 Cup Lahore Whites were scheduled to compete with Faisalabad in the first semifinal, while FATA face Lahore Blues in the other clash; the both semifinals were originally scheduled on November 26th.
