PSL final in Lahore to send positive message: PCB chief

Published February 22, 2017
LAHORE: A technician installs a security camera at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.—AFP
LAHORE: A technician installs a security camera at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.—AFP

LAHORE: Welcoming the decision to host the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan said the move would also help resume international cricket in Pakistan.

“A successful final in Lahore will definitely send a positive message to all [in cricketing world] that the security situation in Pakistan is getting better,” Shaharyar said while talking to reporters here on Tuesday.

Like the inaugural edition held last year, the second edition of PSL is also being staged in the UAE. On Monday, however, the PSL authorities took a bold step to hold the March 5 final of the league in Lahore, instead of Dubai, amid recent incidents of terrorism that have made security situation across the country once again precarious.

Terming the decision of the owners of PSL franchises to hold the final in Lahore as very wise, Shaharyar hoped the foreign players would also show interest in coming to Lahore to compete in the high-profile final.

“VVIP security will be provided to the visiting PSL teams and their officials as the government is very keen to organise a successful show in Lahore,” the PCB chief stated, adding staging the final in Lahore would prove vital in resuming international cricket in Pakistan.

The current wave of terrorism that has hit different parts of the country would not affect the PSL final which would be held under strict security arrangements, he vowed.

“The online sale of tickets [for PSL final] will start in the next couple of days,” he said.

To a question, Shaharyar however said though the security agencies must have started their homework for making strict security arrangements for staging a trouble-free PSL decider, so far they had not held any meeting in this regard with the PCB.

However the PCB, he added, had started its own arrangements at a fast pace for holding PSL final successfully.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...