LAHORE, Oct 5: The logo for the upcoming cricket series between Pakistan and South Africa was unveiled in an impressive ceremony at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club here on Saturday.
Pakistan’s high-profile ‘home’ series comprising two Test matches, five One-day Internationals and two T20 matches is scheduled to be held from Oct 14 to Nov 15 at neutral venues of the UAE.
Commenting on the series, caretaker PCB chairman Najam Sethi hoped Pakistan would produce a better show against South Africa and will make amends for the recent defeats against Zimbabwe.
Sethi said the national team should be confident of doing well against the Proteas and must take heart from the memorable Test series whitewash of England in the UAE early last year.
“It gives me great pleasure to be part of this ceremony where the series logo for the Pakistan-South Africa series 2013 is being unveiled. For such a high-profile series, the unveiling of the logo is an event that inspires us to brace ourselves for an action-packed series against South Africa, one of the world’s best cricket opponents in all formats,” he said.
“Both Pakistan and South Africa squads boast exciting talents. I am positive that Team Pakistan under Misbah-ul-Haq will produce another giant-killing act, just as they did against England at the same venues,” he added.
He hoped Pakistan would take the advantage of ‘home’ wickets in the UAE, as South Africa did at their home soil to whitewash Pakistan in a three-Test rubber earlier this year.
“Pakistan players should consider themselves as champions, and at no point should underestimate themselves [in cricketing contests],” Sethi insisted.
Supporting Misbah as skipper, caretaker PCB chairman said that neither selectors nor the team management had even considered changing Misbah as captain, reckoning he was the best available choice for the slot.
Sethi also noted that Mohammad Hafeez’s batting performance was on decline, terming it worrying.
Commenting on the efforts aimed at reviving international cricket in Pakistan, Sethi, referring to the much talked-of Pakistan Premier League, said: “The PCB is trying to hold an international league, which will help resume international activities in Pakistan.”
On bilateral series with India, Sethi said cricketing ties with India would be restored soon as he got full support from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He also said he could remove all wrongdoings in the PCB provided he was given the authority to work freely.
Praising the sponsors for the Pakistan-South Africa series, Sethi hoped that more such sponsors would come forward to support Pakistan cricket.
Arif Pardesi, chief executive officer of the title sponsors, and other sponsors’ representative were also present at the logo unveiling ceremony.
No comments:
Post a Comment