The fate of the much-anticipated T10 League in Pakistan hangs in the balance as the government has refrained from granting the final approval, throwing the cricketing community into a state of uncertainty.
The brainchild of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf, the initiative aimed to host the T10 League in Pakistan, with initial discussions indicating the possibility of exhibition matches in Rawalpindi from January 24 to 26.
Plans included the participation of a 40-member delegation, comprising male and female cricketers along with officials from the esteemed English cricket county Middlesex.
Despite securing the initial government permission, the latest reports reveal a sudden twist in the tale. A five-member delegation in Islamabad presented a comprehensive project briefing to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), only to encounter an unexpected roadblock.
The Ministry, while giving the green light to the proposal, has withheld the final approval, leaving the stakeholders and cricket enthusiasts in suspense.
Simultaneously, budgetary constraints seem to have entered the equation, with the budget for the exhibition matches being revised down to 280 million rupees. Alongside this, the Ministry issued a directive to the PCB headquarters in Lahore, instructing them to cut back on daily operations. This included restrictions on seating arrangements, the installation of solar panels, and the setup of fans at the stadium.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the Ministry imposed limitations on entering into Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with any cricket board, further complicating the organizational landscape for the proposed T10 League.
In the midst of these developments, Zaka Ashraf is gearing up to preside over a crucial PCB management committee meeting. During this session, a new governing board is expected to be established, featuring four officials and four representatives from different regions. Former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has nominated Zaka Ashraf and Mustafa Ramday as government candidates for these pivotal positions.
