JEDDAH, 29 June 2005 — The first Saudi Gold Cup 2005 cricket series between Pakistan XI and Lashings World XI, will now take place in Saudi Arabia in July. Matches between Pakistan and India were earlier set for June.
A series of day-and-night one-dayers will be played in Riyadh on July 15 and in Jeddah on July 21 and 22, Fahad Khaja of Al-Jawad Group, which is organizing the tournament, told a press conference at Jeddah Marriott Hotel yesterday.
The first match will be played at King Fahd Stadium in the capital and the remaining two matches at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium here.
Former West Indies captain Richie Richardson and Lashings Cricket Club Chairman David Folb of England were also present.
“Pakistan will field its full team,” Khaja said, adding that the team will include captain Inzamam ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Hameed, Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Imran Nazir, Arshad Khan, Asim Kamal and Kamran Akmal.
Richardson will captain Lashings World XI that comprise Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Daniel Vettori, Hamish Marshall and Jacob Oram from New Zealand, and Andre Nel, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Neil McKenzie and Nicky Boje from South Africa. Javagal Srinath of India and Australia’s Andy Bichel are also included.
All arrangements have been made, Khaja said. “We’ve already got the necessary no-objection certificates for organizing and staging the matches.”
Tickets for the Riyadh match are priced at SR50, SR100 and SR300, while those for Jeddah matches are SR100, SR300 and SR500.
The organizers thanked the Presidency of Youth Welfare for its cooperation in arranging the upcoming matches.
The Al-Jawad Group had earlier announced that three matches between Pakistan XI and India XI would take place in June. “We had to change the plan and reschedule the matches due to the Indian cricket board’s refusal,” Khaja added.
“We want to promote cricket in the region. We’re hopeful that such matches will help in promoting the game,” Richardson said.
On his part, Folb praised the organizers. “We’re happy to be here and hope that the presence of the world’s renowned players will generate further interest in the game among players and spectators.”
