Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a tentative schedule of the inaugural event of the Pakistan Premier League (PPL), which is likely to clash with the Indian version of the Twenty20 competition. According to an official, the opening and closing ceremonies have been set for March 25 and April 10 next year respectively. If the event goes ahead as per the tentative schedule, the knockout stages are certain to clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL) that starts from April 3. "We didn`t have much choice. The window after the South Africa tour is the only period available as per the Future Tour Programme," The Express Tribune quoted the official, as saying.
The South Africa cricket board had reportedly refused to reschedule the dates for the Pakistan series, which includes three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20s between February 1 and March 24, 2013. However, the official said the discussions were made with the broadcasters and sponsors during the PPL committee`s visit to Dubai along with PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf. "Broadcasters and sponsors have not shown any reservations. They have given a thumbs-up to the schedule. Only a few matches are coinciding. The IPL will stretch for nearly two months and the clash will not create much problems for us. Even if the leagues have common stars, they will just miss one or two IPL matches. We are now keeping our fingers crossed," the official said. The PCB is targeting 30 international cricketers, including five ``super stars`` for each of team in the league.
ANI
First Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 16:57