Poor crowd presence in T20 championship baffles organisers

Karachi: With the ongoing National T20 Championship in Karachi failing to attract big crowd despite presence of some top players, experts have suggested to organise the tournament in smaller cities in future. The Super eights T20 tournament, held early this year in Faislabad, was a resounding success as far as spectators presence was concerned. Top players such as Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Umar and Kamran Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Aizaz Cheema, Danish Kaneria and Rana Naved are all part of the ongoing tournament but the crowd turn out has been very low. "If you look at the big crowds that showed up for the super eights in Faisalabad and compare that with what is happening in Karachi it is obvious that domestic events need to be held in the smaller cities where the people are more passionate about the sport and lack entertainment and recreational options," former Test player Asim Kamal said. "In the big cities people have more entertainment and recreational options and lead a busy life that is why I think we are not getting big crowds for the tournament," Kamal added. Wazir Ali Khoja, Chairman of the Organising Committee, said he has no clue why people are not coming to watch. "It is hard to pinpoint any specific reason for big crowds not showing up for the matches as we have even now allowed free entry to some of the enclosures including, one only for families," he said. The Lahore City Cricket Association lamented the shifting of the national championship from their city to Karachi because of the dengue fever outbreak in the Punjab capital. "I can tell you there would have been bigger crowds in Lahore as in Karachi big crowds only show up for the semi finals or final," said the Lahore Lions team manager, Shahid Nawab. PTI