Addressing the mascot and logo-unveiling ceremony of the Pakistan Golden Jubilee Cricket Season at a hotel on Wednesday, the PCB chairman said that lack of facilities was hampering the grooming of talent throughout Pakistan. He said that PCB had convinced the Senate standing committee on sports to move a Bill for provision of grounds. That would lay down a condition that all the new housing schemes must have playgrounds. Regarding the Pakistan Golden Jubilee Cricket extravaganza, which would last four months (September to December, 1997), the PCB chairman said that its matches would be seen on television throughout the world. The PCB chief executive Majid Khan and the marketing manager Tahir Memon and Pervaiz Iqbal were also present on the occasion.
During the season, the World Cup champions Sri Lanka,the West Indies, South Africa and Pakistan teams will take part in the four-nation tournament from Nov 2. Before that the Indian team will play a three-match one-day international series against the Pakistan team from Sept 28 to Oct 30. The South African and the West Indies teams will also play three-Test series, each against the Pakistan team during this season.
Talking to mediamen, Majid Khan said that for the first time the PCB had handed over a chart to members of the Pakistan team for their guidance. They have been told that how much was required off them to keep themselves physically fit. Moreover, they were expected to behave in a decent manner on and off the field. The new format of the domestic cricket season was also adopted to give players sufficient time to keep themselves fit.
Following is the programme of the Pakistan Golden Jubilee Cricket Season: India vs. Pakistan (three one-day matches): First at Karachi on Sept 28. Second at Hyderabad on Sept 28. Third at Lahore (Day and Night) on Oct 2.
Pakistan vs. South Africa (Three Test). First Test: Oct 6 to 10 at Rawalpindi. Second Test: Oct 17 to 21 at Sheikhupura. Third Test: Oct 24 to 28 at Faisalabad.
Quadrangular Tournament: Nov 1 to 8 at Lahore (day and night matches). Pakistan vs. West Indies (Three Test series): First Test at Peshawar from Nov 17 to 21. Second Test at Rawalpindi from Nov 29 to Dec 3. Third Test at Karachi from Dec 6 to 10.