The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is working on its Plan B after deadlock over holding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight matches in Punjab.
Director PSL Usman Wahla also arrived in Karachi on Saturday to monitor the preparations for remaining PSL 8 matches at the National Bank Cricket Arena.
According to sources, PCB is considering the possibility of shifting Punjab-leg of PSL 8 to Karachi after receiving a hefty bill from the provincial government.
The PCB and the PSL franchises unanimously decided Friday not to pay an additional cost of Rs450m to the Punjab government.
If the bill is not waived, the matches will be officially shifted to Karachi. Meanwhile, the revised schedule has also been discussed with the franchises.
The deadlock could also result in white-ball matches between Pakistan and New Zealand, in April and May, to be moved out of Punjab.
On the other hand, interim Chief Minister Punjab Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi stated that the provincial cabinet is not in favour of waiving off the bill. However, a cabinet meeting was called on Saturday to discuss the matter.
"Last year, Rs600m were spent on security arrangements for PSL matches in Punjab," said Naqvi. "Since we are an interim setup, we don't have the authority to spend such a heavy amount. The cabinet is also against such an expenditure."
According to the current schedule, Rawalpindi will stage 11 fixtures and Lahore will host nine matches.
The closing ceremony, playoffs and the final will also be played in Lahore.
Schedule of matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi
26 Feb - Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, Gaddafi Stadium
27 Feb - Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United, Gaddafi Stadium
1 Mar - Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium
2 Mar - Lahore Qalandars v Quetta Gladiators, Gaddafi Stadium
3 Mar - Islamabad United v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium
4 Mar - Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium
5 Mar - Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium
6 Mar - Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings, Pindi Cricket Stadium
7 Mar - Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium
8 Mar – Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 1, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators, Pindi Cricket Stadium
9 Mar - Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars, Pindi Cricket Stadium
10 Mar - Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 2, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Peshawar Zalmi v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium
11 Mar - Pakistan Women’s League Exhibition Match 3, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Quetta Gladiators v Multan Sultans, Pindi Cricket Stadium
12 Mar - Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Pindi Cricket Stadium; Lahore Qalandars v Karachi Kings, Gaddafi Stadium
15 Mar - Qualifier (1 v 2), Gaddafi Stadium
16 Mar - Eliminator 1 (3 v 4), Gaddafi Stadium
17 Mar - Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1), Gaddafi Stadium
19 Mar – Final, Gaddafi Stadium