Quaid Trophy final shifted to Karachi

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday shifted the final of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy from Faisalabad to Karachi because of inclement weather in Punjab.

It was PCB's second change of venue in five days after it had moved the five-day final from the originally scheduled Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, to Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad last Thursday.

Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues will contest the title match here at the National Stadium from Jan 20.

Meanwhile, there was resentment in some quarters here regarding the appointment of umpires Mohammad Nazir Junior and Aleem Dar and match referee Ehteshamuddin.

Aleem Dar, a former first-class player who represented Lahore in the 1980s, is still an active club cricketer for Lahore's P and T Gymkhana. Nazir Junior, an ex-Test off-spinner and now an international umpire, is also Lahore based.

It would not be out of contest to mention here that Lahore Blues team comprise of players mostly from P and T Gymkhana and Model Town Nawab Club. Needless to say that the two influential Lahore clubs have large representation in the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA).

On the other hand, Ehteshamuddin, the former Test pacer and until recently a national selector, is also an ex-Lahore first-class player.

It is rather surprizing that while the PCB has retained the match officials, it chose to nominate a local scorer for the third time.

Interestingly, the PCB has overlooked Riazuddin and Mian Aslam, Pakistan's representatives on the ICC panel of international umpires, for the final of the tournament named after Father of the Nation.

With traditional rivals vying for top honours, the cricket managers could have well served the game by either appointing the ICC panel of umpires or officials from the third city to avoid any undue controversy.