DateLine: 12th April 2008

Media Release - 12 April 2008

A news item has appeared in a section of the press in which, through a concerted effort, attempts have been made to cause aspersion on PCB’s ability to organize the present series. The news item alleges that super-sopper available at Faisalabad was old and allegedly failed to do its job. The fact remains that the super-sopper worked continuously for over one hour without any stoppage, dys-function or mal-function. Faisalabad Stadium, which is not under the administrative control of the PCB, does not have proper drainage system. As a result the water from the heavy downpour collected in the ground and the super-sopper had to work longer than if the ground had a proper drainage system.

News item also implies that the power outage during the first One Day International at Lahore was some how the result of PCB’s mis-management. The fact remains that the power supply from WAPDA was disconnected at 8:00 p.m. due to tripping at 132 NTDC Grid at Kot Lakhpat. The alternate power supply from WAPDA at the time of power outage was showing abnormal voltage of 440. As a result the power supply was switched over to generators. The lighting system takes 20 minutes to come on, which includes 7 to 10 minutes of cooling down process for each tower and 3 to 4 minutes of energizing time for each tower. It is also noteworthy that the light towers come on one after another and not simultaneously. By the time the 5th tower switched on through the generator source, the WAPDA power supply had been restored and the 6 tower i.e. tower number 3 outside Imran Khan Enclosure, was energized by WAPDA. Unfortunately the WAPDA power once again got disconnected and PCB had to energize that tower on the generator.

Media Department

(Article: Copyright © 2008 Pakistan Cricket Board)