By Sports Reporter/Doha

Is Qatar going to host Pakistan’s Twenty20 league?
While Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) officials say talks are still in the initial stages and nothing is finalized as yet, media reports claim that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already sent a formal proposal to the Qatar Olympics Association regarding the matter.
The PCB had initially approached the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to hold the franchise-based Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the UAE—Pakistan have been playing their home matches in the UAE for the past six years—but the ECB expressed its inability owing to a scheduling issue.
The UAE is scheduled to hold the inaugural Masters Champions League (MCL)—a tournament for retired international cricketers featuring names like Brian Lara, Adam Gilchrist, Wasim Akram and Jacques Kallis—in February next year and the dates clashed with the proposed Pakistan T20 event.
The PCB then decided to approach Qatar.
Media reports in Pakistan say that two top PCB officials recently visited Doha to check out the existing infrastructure but reportedly want some upgrades to be done at the only existing cricket stadium located in the Industrial Area of the city.
Manzoor Ahmad, the General Secretary (International Affairs and Operations) of the QCA, said that talks were still on with the PCB.
“The PCB officials are scheduled to visit Doha again in two-three weeks’ time to take the matter further. But as of now, nothing is confirmed,” Ahmad told Gulf Times.
The PCB had been floating the idea of hosting their own T20 league, on the lines of the lucrative Indian Premier League, for the last five years, though the talks never really materialised into anything substantial.
Logistical issues however led to an indefinite postponement of the league in 2013, and while there was an attempt to revive the tournament in 2014, with the PCB inviting various parties to acquire rights for the PSL, the quality of the bids meant that the board put their plans on hold again.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and executive committee head Najam Sethi have both been at loggerheads in public over the tournament, but the board recently defused the situation by issuing a press release stating that both men were supporting each other.
The current design of the league is based on the draft system, according to which the distribution of top players among the five franchises will be equally managed.
It is likely the PCB will wait another month before going forward with Doha as the alternative venue for the inaugural version of the league, reports said.
Doha is also seen by Pakistan as a potential venue to host their Under-19, Women and A games on a long-term basis.
The capital city of Qatar successfully hosted a Tri-nations women’s tournament last year involving the national teams of South Africa, Ireland and South Africa. Doha also hosted an under-16 Asian Cricket Council (ACC) event in October.