He said, "Everyone, especially the media, needs to play their part in making this series a success for our own national interest. Media holds a lot of power, but often in the rush to produce breaking news you are not careful and misreport things, turning it into fake news," he said, adding: "Whatever our media puts out there will be quoted by the international media".
Sethi feared that "irresponsible reporting" may affect Sri Lanka's decision to visit Pakistan for a T20 match and the subsequent arrival of West Indies for a three-match series next month. "Currently, we are holding talks for two T20 matches with Sri Lanka in Lahore," he said.
He further said that the international players visiting the country have requested that they be sanitized and "We have agreed to this." However, he said reporters wishing to get in touch with these players should get in touch with us and we will make it happen instead of trying to speak to them directly. "Some players have also said that they do not want to speak to the media at all, and their wishes will be respected as well," he added.
While discussing what he described as "the heartburn" being felt in Karachi due to no matches being played there, Sethi said, "I know people are not happy that there are no matches being played in Karachi, especially after the improved security situation... However the international community needs more reassurance and we have a plan for that."
He said, "We will take the international security team assessing the [security] situation in Lahore to Karachi as well and ask for their recommendations. After this, with the Sindh chief minister's cooperation, we will work on a security plan for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and conduct four of those matches in Karachi."
"Once we have successfully conducted PSL matches in Karachi, we will be in the position to convince international teams to play in Karachi," he explained. It may be added that cricketers from England, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will be visiting Pakistan as part of the World XI squad for a three-match T20 series from September 12 to 15.
Sethi said all the arrangements for the series have been finalised. Regarding complaints about non-availability of Rs 500 denomination tickets, he said they would look into the matter.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017