KARACHI: Thousands of spectators endured long queues and navigated stringent security checkpoints hours ahead of a high profile cricket match on Sunday in Pakistan’s biggest city, the first time in nine years that it has hosted a game of such stature.
At least 8,000 security personnel that also included armed soldiers guarded the 27,000 capacity National Stadium where Peshawar Zalmi will take on Islamabad United in the third PSL final.
“It’s (the PSL final) giving a message to the world that Pakistan is a peaceful country and Pakistan will play role in sports,” said 24-year-old spectator Hamza Yousuf Shah, who was waiting in one of several long queues to get into the stadium.
The five main roads leading to the stadium became a no-go zone for anyone without a ticket starting at noon local time (3 a.m. ET). The final is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. local time.
Spectators had to use a shuttle service before walking the best part of a mile to go through two security checkpoints.
Karachi, which has a population of 15 million, last hosted a major game featuring international players in February 2009 — a test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Later on that tour terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team bus. On March 3, 2009, the bus taking the visiting cricketers to play the third day of the second test was fired upon by 12 gunmen near Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed, while six members of the Sri Lanka team were injured.
The incident resulted in a halting of international cricket in the country, forcing the Pakistan Cricket Board to play abroad with the United Arab Emirates as its “home” for hosting international teams.
However, the PCB has been trying to convince foreign nations to begin touring Pakistan again. Lahore first hosted the PSL final last year as well as three international Twenty20 matches against a World XI and one against Sri Lanka.
But some international PSL players remain reluctant to play in Pakistan. Preliminary PSL matches were played at Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
Australian Shane Watson (Quetta Gladiators) and Englishmen Eoin Morgan (Karachi) and Kevin Pietersen (Quetta) all refused to accompany their respective franchises to Lahore earlier this week for two PSL elimination matches.
“Pakistan is full of cricket fans and it’s a great thing that cricket is back in Pakistan, hopefully it will be a success,” said 16-year-old cricket enthusiast Ria Martin.
Love of the game also brought 14-year-old Maaz Ahmed, who uses a wheelchair, to the ground.
“I had always wanted to see star players live in action and today my dream will be fulfilled,” he said. “I simply can’t describe my excitement in words, I just want the final to begin.”
Other spectators carried placards proclaiming “No Fear, play here” in support of Pakistan’s bid to regain the confidence of foreign teams that the country is ready to stage international matches again.
Peshawar Zalmi is led by West Indian Darren Sammy who is joined by fellow international players Chris Jordan of England and Liam Dawson of South Africa. Islamabad United features JP Duminy of South Africa and Luke Ronchi of New Zealand.
Local Pakistani singers, led by Ali Zafar and Shahzad Roy, headlined an hour-long musical show before the toss.
Sammy joined the musicians on stage where he showcased his dancing skills with teammate and fellow West Indian Andre Fletcher and fast bowler Hasan Ali to the delight of the spectators.
A clearly delighted PCB chairman Najam Sethi told the Karachi crowd that he hoped they would return when the West Indies play three Twenty20 internationals there on April 1-3.
“You have to come back again, fill the stadium and show the world that we are again ready for international matches,” Sethi told the crowd.
Stringent security in place for PSL final in Karachi
Stringent security in place for PSL final in Karachi
Sixth Dakar Rally win for Al-Attiyah as Benavides triumphs on two wheels
Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah won the Dakar Rally for the sixth time in the car category on Saturday as Argentina’s Luciano Benavides won by two seconds on two wheels, the narrowest margin ever.
Al-Attiyah, with Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin, had led overnight after taking his 50th career stage win and made no mistakes as he handed Dacia a first victory at their second attempt in the two-week event held entirely in Saudi Arabia.
The 55-year-old Qatari also won in 2011, 2015, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
Ford’s Nani Roma finished second, nine minutes and 42 seconds behind, and teammate Mattias Ekstrom was third after winning the final stage.
Last year’s winner Yazeed Al-Rajhi of Saudi Arabia withdrew in the opening week after mechanical problems.
Benavides had earlier taken the motorcycle title after American Ricky Brabec lost his way and saw victory slip through his fingers.
The KTM rider, whose older brother Kevin won the Dakar in 2021 and 2023, came home second in the 105-km stage in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu, with Honda’s overnight leader Brabec 10th.
In a grueling endurance event spanning two weeks and 8,000km over rocky roads, through canyons and vast expanses of desert dunes, twice winner Brabec blew his chances with only a few kilometers remaining.
Spaniard Tosha Schareina finished third overall for Honda.
“From the start to the finish I never stopped dreaming, I never stopped believing,” said Benavides, who had trailed Brabec by three minutes and 20 seconds after Friday’s penultimate stage.
“I said to all my people around ‘I don’t know why but I still feel it’s possible, I still believe I can win and it’s going to go my way’.
“In the last three kilometers, Ricky took a wrong piste and I took a good one... I just saw the opportunity and I took it.”
American Skyler Howes was fourth overall for Honda, ahead of Australia’s 2025 champion Daniel Sanders on a KTM.
Sanders crashed on stage 10 but refused to retire and raced on despite a suspected broken collarbone.
