Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Executive Committee Chairman Najam Sethi (fourth left) is seen with Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) officials Khalil Al Jabir and Issa Ali Ghanem in Doha. Also seen are Gul Khan Jadoon (left), Mujeeb-ur-Rehman (second left), Salman Butt (third right) and Usman Wahla (second right).
DOHA: Officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are expected to visit Doha for the second time in about 15 days, top official Najam Sethi said yesterday.
Sethi, chief of PCB’s Executive Committee, completed a two-day trip to Qatar where he held ‘key meetings’ with Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) officials.
During the short trip, Sethi also visited the new cricket stadium in Industrial Area and met with Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) representatives.
Sethi’s quick-stop visit was planned in view of PCB’s desire to stage the first edition of the lucrative T20 series the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Qatar in early 2016.
“We had come down to survey the cricket facilities that Qatar has and to hold key meetings,” Sethi told The Peninsula yesterday.
“We obviously got a first-hand look at the venue. We have taken down notes and we will go back and present our proposals to the PCB board members,” he added.
Sethi said PCB officials are likely to visit Qatar ‘again in 15 days’.
“We are keen to come back in about 15 days and hold more meetings with sports officials here. We’ve held detailed discussions with Qatar Olympic Committee officials over the last two days,” he said.
“We have played a lot of cricket in the UAE but I must say we were very well received here and I must tell you we have got encouraging signs,” he said without elaborating.
Sethi praised Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) for developing the game in the country.
“I must say Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) does a tremendous job of running the game here,” Sethi said. “It is not easy and yet they put in a lot of effort. I am sure if we have an edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Qatar, then we will help the game to become more popular,” he added.
“Qatar’s sports culture and its great reputation of bringing top class events to this country has made us even more keen on having our footprint here,” Sethi said.
Last year, the same venue staged a blockbuster T20 clash between a World XI captained by West Indies great Brian Lara and Asia XI headed by Sri Lanka World Cup winner Sanath Jayasuriya.
The clash drew thousands of cricket enthusiast to watch the retired players in action.
In January 2014, a women’s tri-nation series involving Pakistan, South Africa and Ireland was held at the same flood-lit arena.
The inaugural PSL season was set to begin on 26 March 2013 but has since been postponed due to tight playing schedules the world over and the subsequent non-availability of international players.
“I am sure cricket has a bright future in this country. “This game can go grow manifold,” Sethi said.
THE PENINSULA
