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(By, Shujaat Kamal) Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might include another cricket team in Pakistan Super League (PSL). Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Sialkot and Faisal Abad are in the fray as potential teams to be placed in PSL team list in future. What is your opinion? Youths of GB are continuously expressing their intentions to see a team from the region.They think that when all four provinces of Pakistan can have their teams in the mega event why GB can't have their one even when G-B has already been given provincial status in 2009?. Keeping aside the discussion that whether the demand is right or wrong we can safely say that people of Gilgit-Baltistan love cricket very much. This shows how they are interested in PSL. Currently, PSL comprises of five teams whose names are derived from provincial capitals- Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta and Peshawar.GB cricket lovers have changed their DP's on the famous social network, Facebook in support of their favorite team. Isn't a good idea to add another team from the northern areas of Pakistan?
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| PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE (PSL) CHAIRMAN NAJAM SETHI |
What Chairman PSL Najam Sethi had said about the inclusion of a new team last year? He had added talking to ESPNcricinfo that"Kashmir, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Gilgit-Baltistan were in the fray for the potential team.We will not have [a new team] until the third year that is written. But at the same time, we are looking at the financials about the addition of a sixth team, in terms of whether it will be Kashmir, Faisalabad, Sialkot or Gilgit-Baltistan or any other team. That decision is pending. We have to weigh up the pros and cons and that's the issue right now but we cannot have it until franchises agree. Without their consent, we can't make it." It will be beneficial to both PCB and cricket if another team is added from Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan. Another point that is very important here is that no one from the region has represented the region in international cricket. So it's may quite earlier to think about having a G-B team in big events like Pakistan Super League. Yes, there will be a huge possibility if GB's status is addressed to confront our enemies' objections on CPEC project. PCB should initiate talent hunt programs their to find new talents. Now we make a look at the sports background of the region including cricket. Many sportsmen from Gilgit-Baltistan have already shined for Pakistan.
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| Famous Pakistani mountaineer Hassan Sadpara (Late) from Baltistan made history by climbing the world's highest mountain Mount Everest without using supplemental oxygen. |
One of them is Hassan Sadpara whose real name is Hassan Asad was a Pakistani mountaineer and an adventurer from the small village of Sadpara, 7 kilometers from Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan.He became a celebrated climber after conquering Mount Everest. It was his dedication and self-confidence that led him to the summits of the world's highest peaks.In 2008, Government of Pakistan awarded him the President’s Pride of Performance. He died of cancer on 21, November 2016 in combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi.
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| Samina Baig and her brother Mirza Ali made history by climbing the world's highest mountain Mount Everest without using supplemental oxygen. |
Samina Baig and her brother Mirza Ali have also represented Pakistan as a mountaineer climber a few years back. They belonged to Hunza Gilgit-Baltistan.She is the only Pakistani woman and third Pakistani to climb Mount Everest at the age of 21. If we talk about cricket then we have many young and emerging talents. Inayat Ali Balti is an example who represented both G-B & Pakistan in Australia last year during Pakistan's Under 16 tour to Australia. Inayat Ali had performed well by the bat and impressed as a wicket keeper. He has then received warm congratulations from all over Pakistan for making the team, family, GB & Pakistan proud on international grounds.
All these examples how that G-B is rich in talents. The need of the hour is to open the doors of opportunities on those who deserve it.
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| Inayat Ali Balti who have represented Pakistan Under 16 in Austrailia. |
