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KARACHI: Efforts to completely restore departmental cricket within the nation confronted a dent on Tuesday when Sui Southern Fuel Firm Ltd (SSGC) reportedly knowledgeable the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that they had been withdrawing from the division’s first-class event “President’s Trophy”.
The event is scheduled to begin on December 16. Aside from SSGC, groups from WAPDA, KRL, State Financial institution, HEC, SNGPL and Ghani Glass had been slotted to participate within the 8-team event.
At the very least two officers in PCB confirmed to Geo Information that SSGC has knowledgeable them in regards to the determination to withdraw from the event. Nonetheless, they’re ready for them to offer the replace in writing.
A supply near the division advised this correspondent that the sports activities division of SSGC had accomplished all preparations, together with the signing of high cricketers however the senior administration has determined in opposition to fielding the group on account of funds constraints.
“As you already know the SSGC is a public sector utility firm listed on the nation’s inventory change. So, with the inception of the winter season, the utility’s high precedence is to make sure uninterrupted fuel provides to its over three million prospects,” mentioned the SSGC spokesperson.
“The administration is concentrated on serving its prospects whereas combating powerful challenges within the backdrop of widening demand and provide hole.”
Therefore, there’s much less give attention to different actions together with sports activities, the spokesman mentioned.
The SSGC is pursuing sports activities actions in a restricted method, which is why the utility has withdrawn its cricket group from this event.
It needs to be talked about right here that SSGC has just lately been topped as Nationwide Champions after successful the Nationwide Biking Championship in Lahore with its cyclists establishing new nationwide information.
Division cricket was discontinued throughout PTI’s authorities and PCB had adopted the construction of six regional groups. The home construction took a reverse gear when Shahbaz Sharif led PDM authorities took cost and Najam Sethi was named chairman of the PCB administration committee.
Earlier this yr, the PCB introduced to organise separate first-class tournaments for areas and departments
Although PCB on a number of events had claimed that “a number of departments” have agreed to revive their groups, the very fact stays that the authorities displayed lesser curiosity.
Sources have confirmed that departments like Nationwide Financial institution, KPT, and PQA had additionally declined to take part within the occasion earlier. The PCB will now work on re-drawing for the event.
