Pakistan
National T20 Cup: NCOC allows 25% spectators at stadiums
Islamabad: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Monday allowed 25 percent crowd capacity for the National T20 Cup., sources said on Monday.
The decision was taken after a wave of resentment and frustation among millions of cricket fans as New Zealand team last-minute pulled out of series.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar chaired the meeting.
The NCOC, according to sources, allowed 25% attendance till September 30, and on September 28, it will hold another meeting to decide on increasing the number of spectators.
The NCOC had also approved 25% crowd attendance for the Pakistan-New Zealand series, but after the series was cancelled, fans were left devastated. In light of that, the current development is good news for them.
Sources said the NCOC had conveyed in writen to the ministry of interior, health and the chief secretary Punjab.
The venue for the National T20 Cup, aimed at preparing the Pakistan cricket team ahead of its T20 World Cup campaign, has been shifted from Multan to Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The tournament will be played in two stages starting from September 23. The tournament was originally set to begin on September 25.
Rawalpindi will host the first phase of the tournament from September 23 to October 1, while second phase of the cup would be held from October 4-11 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.