KARACHI: The fourth edition of Pakistan Super League entered its final stages with the Pakistan leg of the tournament kicked off in Karachi amidst fanfare and jubilation on Saturday, where the defending champions Islamabad United smashed Lahore Qalandars to a glorious win.
It was a festive mood across the City of Lights, with glittering lights, colourful illuminations, music, songs and stalls depicting the stadium and player cutouts have lined up the route leading to and from the National Stadium that has been given a new look. There are also giant billboards showing several foreign players representing the six teams Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans.
Young and old cricket enthusiasts eagerly awaiting for the star-studded performances packed the National Stadium to capacity. They cheered every shot and every ball, bucking up the players and teams while raising slogans of Pakistan Zindabad. The people of the entertainment-starved city and the cricket fans are jubilant that the weeklong cricket mega event is being staged in the city. Karachi will host and see some of the biggest stars in international cricket — including Shane Watson of Australia and Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy of the West Indies — in action over the next few days.
With 26 matches have already completed in the league, only Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi have secured their places in final four of the tournament. Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings are competing for the remaining two slots. The Multan Sultans have been eliminated from the race. Islamabad played its last game on Saturday night, and it has eight points on the table. Their win against Lahore confirmed Islamabad’s berth in the final four. Islamabad’s win, although, did not eliminate Qalandars from the race and they still have a chance to improve their position by beating Multan comprehensively in the last game. They will certainly be in wonderful position if Karachi loses both games. If Lahore wins both, they will qualify for the playoffs and in such scenario, Islamabad will wait for the outcome of the Karachi’s matches. If Karachi manages to win one of its matches then it will join Lahore in the playoffs and Islamabad will be eliminated from the race. Multan, which managed only four points from nine games is already out of the race but it can be a spoiler for rest of the teams on the points table.
The Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators will take the field on March 10. Lahore will face the Multan Sultans on March 11. The Karachi Kings will also take the field on March 11 to face Peshawar Zalmi. The eliminators will be held on March 13, 14 and 15 and the final of the PSL 4 will be held on March 17.
Tight security has been provided for the six franchise teams, including more than 13,000 policemen and 2,500 armed paramilitary personnel in place en route from the hotel to the stadium and in the surroundings of the National Stadium. Rangers have been deployed inside the stadium. Hundreds of CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the National Stadium to monitor the movement of spectators.
International cricket has revived in the country since it was suspended following an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore ten years ago.
“The perception that foreigners have about the safety situation in Pakistan will change and they will be satisfied with the security arrangements,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani said.
“I am delighted to welcome the foreign players who have come here for the PSL and I am sure it will help us in bringing more international matches to the country.” Mani said Bangladesh and Sri Lanka could tour Pakistan later this year if the PCB successfully organised the PSL games.
