PSL 7
\n Islamabad
\nPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja on Monday appreciated the National Command and Operation Centre\u2019s (NCOC) decision to move up the capacity of spectators from 25% to 50% during the Lahore leg matches of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL).
\nIn a statement, Raja said he was hopeful that the stadium will be filled with a \u201cgood crowd\u201d.
\nThe former cricketer was also glad that children under 12 will also be allowed to enter the stadium, adding that these cricket festivals are organised for children \u201cI am glad the NCOC has allowed them to enter the stadium.\u201d
\nPCB chief said he is hopeful that Lahore leg matches will be as entertaining as Karachi leg matches, however, he lamented that the authorities had devised a master plan for cricket lovers during PSL 7 but implementation wasn\u2019t possible due to COVID-related restrictions.
\nIt is pertinent to mention here that the NCOC on Monday said 50% fully vaccinated spectators will be allowed till February 15 and from February 16, 100% fully vaccinated fans will be allowed at the Gaddafi Stadium.
\nThe Lahore leg matches \u2014 which will be staged completely under the lights of the Gaddafi Stadium \u2014 will kick start on February 10, with the unbeaten Multan Sultans facing off against Peshawar Zalmi.
\nShedding light on the pitch conditions, he said: \u201cIf the pitches are not good then the quality of cricket will not be good.\u201d
\nHe mentioned that he himself monitored the preparation of pitches today, assuring that he will try his best to make good pitches.
\n\u201cOnly good pitches can make us a great team,\u201d Ramiz Raja reiterated.
\nAustralia\u2019s tour to Pakistan
\nSpeaking about the upcoming Aussies tour, he said a strong Australian team will come to Pakistan. \u201cThere will be good competition in the series,\u201d he said.
\nPCB chief said: \u201cI hope the series will allow us to test our skills and preparedness which will determine where do we stand.\u201d
\nThe tour \u2014 which will be Australia\u2019s first in 24 years \u2014 is set to start and end in Rawalpindi with the opening Test to be played from March 4-8 and the four white-ball matches to be played from March 29 to April 5, a statement from the PCB had said.
\nAustralia last toured Pakistan in 1998 when Mark Taylor\u2019s team recorded a 1-0 win from the three-Test series.
\nThe tour will comprise three Tests, three ODIs, and one T20I.
\nThe change in the first Test venue means that the second Test will be played in Karachi from 12-16 March and the third in Lahore from 21-25 March.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PSL 7 Islamabad Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja on Monday appreciated the National Command and Operation Centre\u2019s (NCOC) decision to move up the capacity of spectators from 25% to 50% during the Lahore leg matches of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). In a statement, Raja said he was hopeful that the stadium […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":243264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[388,3851,1115,2484],"class_list":{"0":"post-243258","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-covid","9":"tag-lahore-matches","10":"tag-ncoc","11":"tag-ramiz-raja"},"yoast_head":"\n