Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Lahore Qalandars are returning to the pitch earlier than anticipated as they are scheduled to play an exhibition T10 match against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) XI on May 28.
The Lahore Qalandars will feature Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mirza Tahir Baig, Jalat Khan, Ahsan Bhatti and Ahmed Danyal, as well as cricketers from the franchise’s Players Development Programme, while Kamran Akmal, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Akhlaq, Abbas Afridi, Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Sajid Khan, Ali Imran and Usman Qadir will represent the PCB XI.
The T10 match is part of the soft launch of the multi-billion Narowal Sports Complex in Narowal Sports City, which boasts 14 stadiums and gymnasiums for various games, including cricket, football, hockey, volleyball, squash, table tennis, lawn tennis, badminton and others. U19 players will also participate in the match.
The decision to organise the T10 match was taken during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal. “The key objective is to provide the best platform to the youth of the country to sharpen their skills. The complex provides the best setting and hopefully would help in grooming future generations in a big way. Youth of the country has huge potential to transform the country,” said Ahsan Iqbal.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will start its advertisement campaign one week before the match to facilitate spectators and players. A large number of spectators are expected to turn up at the stadium to watch national and international cricketers in action. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be the guest of honour at the launching ceremony of the state-of-the-art complex that provides international-standard facilities for athletes’ training.
