Afghanistan Cricket Board express concern over touring dengue-ridden Lahore

Lahore, Sept 16 : The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has expressed concern over the Afghan team scheduled visit to dengue-ridden Lahore to take part in Pakistan’s National Twenty20 Championship. The event, featuring 13 regional teams along with Afghanistan, is expected to attract a full house at the Gaddafi Stadium, situated in an area declared to be a risk for the deadly disease.
The Punjab Government has also declared an emergency situation to deal with the dengue menace that has affected over 4,000 in the province.
“It’s a concern not just for us but also for the other teams. We are getting updates through media reports and it appears that the situation is not good,” The Express Tribune quoted ACB Marketing and Media Director Tariq Naeem, as saying.
He suggested putting off the event, in case the situation in Lahore, where over 3,000 people have been infected with the deadly virus, remains the same.
“Obviously the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) itself is monitoring the situation very closely, but we will decide in a couple of days,” Naeem said.
“As far as what the situation is right now, I can only suggest postponing it in the best interest of the public and the players, but we will still wait for the hosts to make the final decision,” he added.
Meanwhile, the PCB has declined the Karachi City Cricket Association’s request to arrange for their practice sessions in Lahore.