Bahawalpur new addition to Faysal Bank T-20

The PCB has announced a new format and a new team for its domestic Twenty20 tournament, and created a window for it in the 2012-13 season by indefinitely pushing back the President Trophy final, which was scheduled to begin on December 3. Bahawalpur is the new team in the T20 competition.

The Faysal Bank T-20 Cup will begin on December 1 and its final will be on December 9, and it will be held entirely in Lahore. The 14 teams were divided into two groups of seven each and the tournament will comprise 45 matches. The top two teams from each group will contest the semi-finals.

Defending champions Sialkot Stallions were pooled in Group A with Lahore Lions, Islamabad Leopards, Karachi Zebras, Abbottabad Falcons, Quetta Bears and Multan Tigers. Group B comprises Karachi Dolphins, Rawalpindi Rams, Faisalabad Wolves, Bahawalpur Stags, Peshawar Panthers, Lahore Eagles and Hyderabad Hawks. Apart from Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore City Cricket Association Ground and the historical Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground will stage the games.

The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in Karachi from December 2 to 10. "Karachi was our a definite choice but we have been monitoring the circumstances in Karachi, so in the larger interest of the cricket we have decided to hold the event in Lahore." Zakir Khan, PCB's director of domestic cricket operations, said.

Last year, Rawalpindi was first given hosting rights but after the local authorities could not complete renovation on the dilapidated stadium in time, the event was shifted to Lahore. In 2010-11, the T20 tournament was shifted from Lahore to Karachi owing to the outbreak of dengue in the Punjab province.