After repeated refusals from Punjab government to procure lights for New Zealand series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to arrange lights for Lahore matches on its own which would end the prolonged tussle between PCB and Punjab government, The Friday Times (TFT) has learnt.
Earlier, PCB and the Punjab government had locked horns over the procurement of lights ahead of the New Zealand and Pakistan series in which 5T20I and 5 ODIs matches will be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
The first three T20I will be played in Lahore while the remaining two T20I and first two ODI’s will be played in Rawalpindi.
PCB will arrange lights for matches in Lahore
While talking to TFT, the PCB spokesperson said that the cricket board will procure or arrange the lights for matches in Lahore. The lights for Rawalpindi is not an issue as a very minimal number of lights are required in Rawalpindi.
PCB refused to procure lights in SCCLO meeting
Earlier, during the meeting of the caretaker standing committee of cabinet on law and order (SCCLO) on April 7 the number one agenda item was security and administrative arrangements for the New Zealand series in which PCB said that they cannot arrange or procure the lights and asked the Punjab government to make the arrangements.
SCCLO asked PCB to procure lights on its own
However, the SCCLO had said that PCB was instructed and informed time and time again that they should arrange the lights before the New Zealand and Pakistan series.
It is pertinent to mention that on February 25 it was decided that PCB will provide Rs205 million for security and other administrative arrangements but now PCB is saying that they will only provide Rs 100 million and the remaining funds be provided and arranged by the Punjab government.
“The SCCLO in its decision on April 7 had said that the cost of lights for the security purposes will be provided by PCB,” said a senior official who was part of the meeting.
The SCCLO also informed that PCB will do everything in this regard and we have nothing to do with it.
Sources maintained that PCB officials had said that these costs were previously incurred by the provincial governments.
“Although in the previous meetings when they were asked by the caretaker government to procure lights they used to say that we are purchasing them but it needs time as they have to import them,” a senior official said.
Interestingly, it was also on the agenda of SCCLO meeting held on March 22 2023 as well in which SCCLO was briefed that on the directions of CM Punjab Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi a team comprising of provincial ministers, home department and commissioner Lahore held a meeting with Chairman PCB Najam Sethi to share the cost to be incurred on security arrangements of PSL 8.
It was decided that the case of procurement of lights be sent to PCB for its consideration by its Board of Governors. These lights would be a permanent asset of PCB and will be issued during such events.
How many lights are required?
A senior official privy to this development told TFT that 21,600 lights are required in Lahore, 670 lights in Rawalpindi and 7083 lights in Multan.
He said that accordingly, the requirements of the lights were shared with the PCB to take further necessary action.
PCB’s previous stance
As per the minutes of the meeting held on March 22, the chair asked the representative of the PCB to brief participants regarding the present status of procurement of lights.
“Representatives of PCB informed the participants of the meeting that the PCB has decided in principle to procure lights for the cricketing series,” is what was documented in the minutes of the meeting.
On March 22, the SCCLO observed that the series of Pakistan Vs New Zealand is scheduled in April, therefore it would be advisable that PCB May procure the lights by invoking the emergency clause of PEPRA.
In its decision on March 22, SCCLO considered and decided that PCB will procure lights in consultation of DCs Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan, before the commencement of New Zealand cricket series by invoking the emergency clause of PEPRA.
The SCCLO also decided that the home department will convey the decision of SCCLO taken on March 22 regarding procurement of lights to Chairman PCB and follow up regularly the instant matter till its purchasing.
The first three T20Is will be played in Lahore starting from April 14 and the remaining two T20I’s and first two ODI’s will be hosted by Rawalpindi before the series moves to the city of lights which will host the last three ODIs and the series will conclude on May 7.
Earlier, PCB and the Punjab government had locked horns over the procurement of lights ahead of the New Zealand and Pakistan series in which 5T20I and 5 ODIs matches will be played in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.
The first three T20I will be played in Lahore while the remaining two T20I and first two ODI’s will be played in Rawalpindi.
PCB will arrange lights for matches in Lahore
While talking to TFT, the PCB spokesperson said that the cricket board will procure or arrange the lights for matches in Lahore. The lights for Rawalpindi is not an issue as a very minimal number of lights are required in Rawalpindi.
PCB refused to procure lights in SCCLO meeting
Earlier, during the meeting of the caretaker standing committee of cabinet on law and order (SCCLO) on April 7 the number one agenda item was security and administrative arrangements for the New Zealand series in which PCB said that they cannot arrange or procure the lights and asked the Punjab government to make the arrangements.
SCCLO asked PCB to procure lights on its own
However, the SCCLO had said that PCB was instructed and informed time and time again that they should arrange the lights before the New Zealand and Pakistan series.
It is pertinent to mention that on February 25 it was decided that PCB will provide Rs205 million for security and other administrative arrangements but now PCB is saying that they will only provide Rs 100 million and the remaining funds be provided and arranged by the Punjab government.
“The SCCLO in its decision on April 7 had said that the cost of lights for the security purposes will be provided by PCB,” said a senior official who was part of the meeting.
The SCCLO also informed that PCB will do everything in this regard and we have nothing to do with it.
Sources maintained that PCB officials had said that these costs were previously incurred by the provincial governments.
“Although in the previous meetings when they were asked by the caretaker government to procure lights they used to say that we are purchasing them but it needs time as they have to import them,” a senior official said.
Interestingly, it was also on the agenda of SCCLO meeting held on March 22 2023 as well in which SCCLO was briefed that on the directions of CM Punjab Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi a team comprising of provincial ministers, home department and commissioner Lahore held a meeting with Chairman PCB Najam Sethi to share the cost to be incurred on security arrangements of PSL 8.
It was decided that the case of procurement of lights be sent to PCB for its consideration by its Board of Governors. These lights would be a permanent asset of PCB and will be issued during such events.
How many lights are required?
A senior official privy to this development told TFT that 21,600 lights are required in Lahore, 670 lights in Rawalpindi and 7083 lights in Multan.
He said that accordingly, the requirements of the lights were shared with the PCB to take further necessary action.
PCB’s previous stance
As per the minutes of the meeting held on March 22, the chair asked the representative of the PCB to brief participants regarding the present status of procurement of lights.
“Representatives of PCB informed the participants of the meeting that the PCB has decided in principle to procure lights for the cricketing series,” is what was documented in the minutes of the meeting.
On March 22, the SCCLO observed that the series of Pakistan Vs New Zealand is scheduled in April, therefore it would be advisable that PCB May procure the lights by invoking the emergency clause of PEPRA.
In its decision on March 22, SCCLO considered and decided that PCB will procure lights in consultation of DCs Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan, before the commencement of New Zealand cricket series by invoking the emergency clause of PEPRA.
The SCCLO also decided that the home department will convey the decision of SCCLO taken on March 22 regarding procurement of lights to Chairman PCB and follow up regularly the instant matter till its purchasing.
The first three T20Is will be played in Lahore starting from April 14 and the remaining two T20I’s and first two ODI’s will be hosted by Rawalpindi before the series moves to the city of lights which will host the last three ODIs and the series will conclude on May 7.