stadium heavily guarded as pakistan hosts cricket final
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

Stadium heavily guarded as Pakistan hosts cricket final

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Stadium heavily guarded as Pakistan hosts cricket final

A Pakistani paramilitary soldier stands alert
Lahore, Pakistan - Arab Today

Lahore prepared to host the Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket final on Sunday as Qaddafi Stadium turned into a fortress amid security fears.
The Punjab provincial government gave the go-ahead to the domestic Twenty20 match between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.
Doubts were raised over the eastern city of Lahore hosting the final when a wave of new attacks hit Pakistan last month. At least 13 people were killed in Lahore when a suicide bomber targeted police escorting a rally by pharmacists.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hopes the final will be an opportunity to show it is safe to resume international cricket in the country.
Cricket-mad fans have welcomed the final being staged in Pakistan after all its league matches were organized in the UAE, where Pakistan’s national team also plays its home matches.
“It’s a super decision of PCB, I haven’t got the ticket for the final but even then I will cheer ... and watch the match on television at home,” said 18-year-old student Afaq Elahi.
The provincial government promised to provide more than 8,000 security personnel in and around the sports complex where Qaddafi Stadium is located and the teams’ route to the stadium.
Armed police and soldiers guarded the stadium on Saturday, which was off limits to even the media.
Pakistan has been a no-go zone for all major Test-playing nations for the last eight years since gunmen killed seven policemen in an attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009. Several players were injured.
Spectators will have to walk through at least three checkpoints before entering the stadium on Sunday. A temporary hospital of 25 beds was also established at a nearby hockey stadium in case of emergency.
The two finalist franchises have convinced foreign players, including West Indian Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels, to travel to Pakistan.
Both West Indians were expected to fly in from Dubai late Saturday night along with England’s Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan as Peshawar’s four overseas players.
Last year’s finalist Quetta brought in five new foreign players — Morne van Wyk of South Africa, Anamul Haque of Bangladesh, Elton Chigumbura and Sean Ervine of Zimbabwe, and Rayad Emrit of the West Indies — after four key players declined to travel to Pakistan due to security fears.
Coach Moin Khan said that his team was still “hopeful” of winning the title despite the withdrawal of England’s Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Tymal Mills along with South African Rilee Rossouw after Quetta qualified for the final by beating Peshawar Zalmi in the first playoff. Their overseas players are expected to arrive in Lahore.
At least three former Test cricketers — including Imran Khan and Javed Miandad — have criticized the PCB’s decision to bring the PSL final to Lahore.
Imran called it “madness” and warned that any incident could delay the return to Pakistan of international cricket for another 10 years.
Away from security concerns, Peshawar has lost its star attraction Shahid Afridi for the final. The flamboyant all-rounder injured his right hand while fielding during the knockout match against Karachi Kings in Dubai.

Source: Arab News

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

stadium heavily guarded as pakistan hosts cricket final stadium heavily guarded as pakistan hosts cricket final



GMT 05:52 2014 Tuesday ,27 May

ORLY to launch Rich Renewal skincare collection

GMT 12:18 2012 Saturday ,28 January

High school STEM students’ invention awarded patent

GMT 10:29 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

7 m Yemenis close to starvation

GMT 23:59 2014 Wednesday ,29 January

Benefits of having a pet

GMT 19:08 2014 Wednesday ,19 February

River Island to launch RI Cycle for SS14

GMT 12:14 2017 Wednesday ,19 April

MR PORTER launches Capsule Collections

GMT 09:32 2011 Friday ,17 June

China to increase coastal forces

GMT 14:47 2014 Monday ,12 May

How to increase metabolism effectively

GMT 12:36 2017 Thursday ,09 February

Brisk demand for Pyeongchang Winter Olympics tickets

GMT 13:12 2017 Friday ,29 September

President Sisi has busy schedule last week

GMT 07:40 2017 Friday ,23 June

Zamalek’s chairperson says

GMT 10:27 2017 Monday ,16 October

Sexy Apple launches and appoints PR

GMT 13:12 2017 Wednesday ,10 May

McIlroy and Garcia

GMT 08:52 2012 Sunday ,19 August

Wael Kfoury\'s new album release

GMT 18:42 2014 Monday ,17 February

How to make losing weight easy and fun

GMT 10:41 2017 Saturday ,11 March

Brazilians flock to withdraw stimulus plan cash

GMT 08:53 2017 Thursday ,07 December

US President Trump recognises Jerusalem

GMT 13:04 2015 Wednesday ,30 September

Malian Islamist faces war crimes judge

GMT 03:23 2017 Monday ,13 February

Saud bin Saqr watches documentary on Ras al-Khaimah

GMT 20:26 2015 Sunday ,23 August

'Straight Outta Compton' outguns box office rivals
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday