Published: Feb 14, 2017, 11:07 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 14, 2017, 08:45 PM (IST)
Chairman of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Najam Sethi has assured fans that the final match in the Twenty20 series will be held in Lahore, if they want so. Following a deadly blast that killed over a dozen people on Monday in Lahore, questions were raised on the possibility of having the PSL final match in the city. However, Sethi stated that if the nation wants the final to be held in Lahore, then it will be held in Lahore, even without foreign players. “If the nation says the PSL final should be held in Lahore, despite the unwillingness of foreign players to come to Pakistan following today’s tragedy, then the final will be held in Lahore with Pakistani players,” GeoTV quoted Sethi as saying.
Sethi speaking to ESPNcricinfo.com said what was the reaction of foreign players after the bombing at Lahore occured on Monday, “Obviously people will be more wary and scared – they were already and now will be more. So right now to say whether we can convince them easily is very difficult… Now I will have to start all over again. I cannot say that we will be successful or not because they have families, they will have their associations which will guide them.” On Sethi’s stance, he has asked the public on whether they would want a final at Lahore or whether the final should happen at Dubai with foreign players as well.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had announced to host the final of PSL 2017 in Lahore on March 5th. However, citing security reasons, the first edition of his T20 spectacle was entirely played in UAE. Islamabad United were the title-holders, beating Quetta Gladiators. Also read: Afridi wants PCB to set example to stop spot-fixing and corruption
The board, though, had not officially announced the venue for the final encounter. No doubt that Pakistan spectators want the league to be played on their very own soil. Barred from playing any international contest in the country for more than over half a decade, even the Pakistan players would want to boast of their skill in front of their home crowd. All the same, the foreign players would be disappointed if they do not get to play the all-important final.
(With inputs from ANI)
