Players protest PCB's attempt to snatch Model Town Extn cricket ground

The players and office bearers of New Ittefaq Cricket Club have appealed to the authorities to stop Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from snatching their practice ground. 

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the ground located at the Model Town Extension Lahore is under the control of Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) where the youth from Model Town, Garden Town, Faisal Town and Johar Town play cricket and take part other healthy activities. 

The club management has inked an agreement with the PHA to use the ground till 2024. This contract is renewable and the Club is getting the contract renewed from PHA from the last several years.  

Established for the last three decades, the Club had produced several prominent players who also represented the national team. 

Now a days, at least 70 promising cricketers are practicing in the ground in morning and evening sessions.   

In a recent development, a representative of the PCB came in the ground on April 7 and started taking measurements of the ground. 

On asking, it is revealed that the PCB is planning to establish women cricket academy here at the behest of Junaid Zia, manager of Pakistan Women Cricket Team.

This news has worried the club management and other elderly people who have great attachment with the cricket and club. 

On their request, Lahore Region Cricket President offered to the PCB two venues for women cricketers, one in Johar Town and other in Model Town-R Block as the substitute for set up a women academy but Junaid Zia, son of former PCB chairman Lt Gen (retd) Tauqeer Zia declined the offer and insisting to grab the ground from youth of the area. 

The club officials were of the view that the ground was the only play area for the youth of the adjacent areas and depriving them from this ground means pushing them to unhealthy and criminal activities.