In a major set-back to the budding UAE based T10 cricket league, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has given an interim stay-order against the promotion of one of the tournament’s teams called the “Karachians” in any manner, in Pakistan or abroad.
The SHC was hearing a request made by the Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Karachi Kings, which sought a stay order from the court against the UAE T20 league’s usage of the name Karachi. Granting the stay order, the court said to the respondents that “you are hereby restrained from using, exploiting, marketing, and/or promoting the team name “Karachians” in Pakistan and/or otherwise through any medium including but not limited to satellite television, online streaming, social media, print media, electronic media, or otherwise.”
It goes on to say that the respondents and their “agents, officers, principals, representatives, distributors, and/or assigns are restrained from airing, broadcasting, advertising, and/or promoting the T-10 League and the team “karachians” or any other city team using the name “Karachi.”
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a notice on Saturday asking television and radio channels to comply with the order of the court to not air any advertisements that were promoting the Pakistan based T10 team.
Restraining orders of Sindh High Court on advertising, promotion of T10 league, teams Karachian and Karachities on TV and FM Radio. pic.twitter.com/rEw6u46edI
— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) November 10, 2018
The Karachians are one of the eight T-10 franchises that was launched in the UAE last year amidst much controversy by players and administrators alike. Fears regarding the tournament included that it was too much of a digression from traditional cricket, and that the tournament could end up breeding bookies and fixers. There had also been worries that the tournament would clash with the still rising PSL.Earlier this week it was learnt that five out of the six PSL franchises had written a letter to PCB chairman Ehsan Mani, voicing concern over what they felt was encroachment by the T10 league into what they consider their territory.
All teams in the franchise draw their names from different areas across the subcontinent, and the Karachians are the first to get in trouble for it. Other team names include Kerala Kings, Bengal Tigers, Punjabi Legends, Maratha Arabians, Pakhtoons, Northern warriors, and Rajputs.
At the same time, T10 chairman Nawab Shajiul Mulk was confident that the court will cancel its order after hearing their side of the argument. “It’s a temporary thing and our lawyers are confident that the injunction is not based on sound principles.”
