22nd February 2010

by Saj Sadiq

When former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif and the Karachi city government came together to launch the Karachi Champions League (KCL), there were some cynics who doubted whether the venture would be a success and capture the imagination of Karachiites. However they must have doubted Rashid Latif's proven track record, grit and determination in ensuring his brainchild would not fall flat.

What might be the most lucrative club tournament to have been played in Pakistan, the Karachi Champions League, a Twenty20 league, for the leading clubs of the port city has a pot of Rs 10 million (around USD 117,200) as the top prize for the winners. The tournament, a brainchild of Latif and the Rashid Latif Cricket Academy (RLCA) has featured a number of Karachi-based current and former international players, as well as a host of domestic cricketers.

Speaking to PakPassion.net regarding the KCL, Karachi based batsman Hasan Raza was full of praise for the newly formed competition. "It's a great initiative, a fantastic idea by Rashid Latif and the Karachi city government. The players have really enjoyed themselves and the cricket has been of a very good standard".

Habib Bank Limited skipper, Raza who has high hopes of an international comeback after a solid domestic season added "the crowds have been huge, the atmosphere at the matches has been electric and everyone has been impressed with the organisation of this tournament and the standard of the cricket. The fact that the matches have been night matches has added to the atmosphere. Players have really made an effort to support Rashid Latif in this tournament, sometimes playing in the matches, having played in the RBS Cup earlier in the day".

Raza who was only 14 when he made his international debut for Paksitan continued "I've been playing for A.O. cricket which is the team of Azhar Ali Shah and we've done very well, but unfortunately we got knocked out yesterday by Mohammad Hussain cricket club that were featuring Faisal Iqbal, Sajid Ali and Mohammad Sami in their lineup. My Habib Bank team mate Kamran Hussein hit a century yesterday, which was the first century in the KCL, but unfortunately it was not enough to see us qualify for the semi finals".

Raza who was one of the Pakistani players to take part in the Indian Cricket League feels that the KCL has a bright future and could become an integral part of the Pakistani domestic calendar.

"I don't see why the KCL cannnot become a regular tournament in the Pakistani domestic circuit and become a regular competition. The success of the first tournament has been huge and it can only get bigger and better and Rashid is such an esteemed name in Pakistani cricket, that the players from not just Karachi, but all over Pakistan will support him.