By: Rashid Ali Siddiqui, Karachi – Pakistan, June 25, 2014: Ramdan Cricket Tournaments, The Ramdam cricket tournaments will lack the traditional festivities this year in Karachi following the restriction imposed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on contractual and star cricketers.
The Metropolitan city has been hosting more than a dozen Ramdam festival cricket tournaments for the last three decades and prominent among them in terms of lucrative cash awards are Aga Khan Gymkhana tournament, Nazimabad Super Cup (now named Dr M. A. Shah Trophy), Rashid Latif Academy Cup, Moin Khan Academy DHA Tournament, former test fast bowler Jalaluddin’s Vital Five Club cup at South End stadium, Naya Nazimbad Cup and Hill Park Tournament.
The renowned cricketers most of them from upcountry such as Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Umer Gul, Mohammad Hafeez, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Asad Shafiq and many more used to come and play in Karachi’s Ramdan festival cricket events every years and there was enthusiasm among the spectators while Asghar Ali Shah stadium, Karachi Gymkhana ground, Moin Khan Academy and RLCA grounds in F. B. Area and Korangi and South End Stadium wore festive look in whole Ramdan nights. For the last two years late Dr Muhammad Ali Shah had been inviting Afghanistan team to play in his event.
This year his event is being organized by his son Dr Junaid Ali Shah but without much ado.
This year only few star cricketers like Sohail Khan, Khalid Latif and Shahzeb Hassan will be seen in action in RLCA tournament, being organized by former captain Rashid Latif while Moin Khan after assuming heavy responsibilities with Pakistan team as manager and chief selector decided against organizing tournament this year.
It may be mentioned that Moin Khan had obtained special permission by PCB last year to play cricketers having central contract. PCB forbade star cricketers to play Ramzan cricket this year. In this regard a clause has been given in the documents of central contract as board official want them to save from injuries. —- By Rashid Ali Siddiqui
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