LAHORE: The city of gardens is all set to host Pakistani and foreign players for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) eliminator match, slated to take place later today at the city’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The PSL’s initial matches have concluded in Dubai and Sharjah and the tournament will now move to Lahore, before concluding with the final in Karachi.
Gaddafi Stadium will host elimination matches on March 20 and 21.
Foreign players start arriving
Foreign players associated with the Gladiators, Zalmi, and Kings reached Lahore early morning.
Except for Dwayne Smith and Dwayne Bravo, all foreign players of Peshawar Zalmi — including skipper Darren Sammy, Liam Dawson, Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, and Chris Jordan — arrived early morning along with the Kings’ Ravi Bopara, Tymal Mills, Joe Denly, David Wiese, Lendl Simmons, and Colin Ingram.
The players travelled to Pakistan in foreign airlines and arrived here in Lahore at different times during the night, following which they reached their hotel amid stringent security protocol.
Upon their arrival at the hotel, they received a hearty welcome at the hotel.
Chris Green, who is representing the Gladiators, said: “I’m very happy to be in Pakistan for the first time. Peshawar Zalmi have a big match today!”
Rilee Rossouw, also representing the Gladiators, said he was glad to have reached Lahore.
“I’m very excited; I hope the Gladiators get a lot of support.”
On the other hand, Mahmudullah and Tamim Iqbal of Bangladesh have taken off from Sri Lanka, all set to land in Pakistan soon. The former will be playing for the Gladiators while the latter will represent Zalmi.
Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera and Green of Australia, Yorkshire’s Tom Kohler-Cadmore, West Indian batsman Johnson Charles, and South African Rossouw will feature for Gladiators.
Return of international cricket
In the first elimination match, Peshawar Zalmi will face Quetta Gladiators, with the winner going on to face Karachi Kings in the second elimination match for a place in the final, which is set to take place on March 25, in Karachi — after over nine years since the city last hosted international cricketers.
Karachi, the city of lights, hosted its last international Test match in February 2009 when Pakistan played against Sri Lanka.
Days later, terrorists attacked a bus carrying the visiting Sri Lankans near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, resulting in the suspension of international cricket in the country for years to come.
Last year, Pakistan only hosted the PSL final in Lahore. In this context, the three PSL matches being held in Lahore and Karachi, this year, are being hailed as an indicator of the improving security conditions and the gradual return of international cricket to the nation.
Welcoming banners
Further, except for Eoin Morgan, all of the Kings’ foreign players are set to arrive in Lahore as part of the squad for the second qualifier, scheduled to take place at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
These include Joe Denly, Tymal Mills, Lendl Simmons and David Weisse.
The metropolis’ local administration has put welcome banners on the roads from Allama Iqbal International Airport to the hotel, and from there to the stadium, while the security plans during the match have been finalised.
Section 144 imposed from Stadium to Mall Road
The Punjab Interior Secretary and Lahore Commissioner monitored the preparations in the stadium, while the government has imposed Section 144 from Gaddafi Stadium to Mall Road.
While speaking to the media, Abdullah Khan Sumbal, the Commissioner of Lahore, said the government will provide all necessary facilities to the cricket fans, including refreshments on economic rates.
As many as four parking areas have been designated for the fans coming to watch the matches, who will be taken to the stadium via shuttle service.
All educational institutes within a three-kilometre radius of the stadium will be closed by 11 AM, whereas a few metro bus stations will also halt their services.
A monitoring cell has been established in the Gaddafi Stadium to review the security of the stadium and nearby areas.
Moreover, security officials have visited the dressing rooms and entry points of the spectators.
Foreign commentators have also reached Lahore. Danny Morrison, Alan Wilkins, Micheal Slater, Damien Fleming, and Daren Ganga have arrived alongside Ramiz Raja and Bazid Khan.
