ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the Pakistani government’s central body dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, has issued guidelines for spectators of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament which starts on February 20.
Earlier this month, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that matches would be played with only 20 percent spectators at two stadiums in Karachi and Lahore.
Pakistan’s inaugural national cricket league, launched in 2016, has been a huge success, even though many of the matches in the first five editions had to be played in the United Arab Emirates due to security risks. Last year, all matches of the series were played in Pakistan for the first time, but the final in March was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak and finally played in November before an empty stadium.
“The purpose of these guidelines is to outline the procedures and protocols in place at the proposed venues of PSL 6 for 20% spectators in attendance,” NCOC said in statement issued this week.
“There will be basic health (symptoms) and temperature checks in place for spectators at every entry point. Should any person display symptoms while at the stadium they will be directed toward the stadium hospital immediately and may be refused entry to the stadium,” it added.
NCOC said PCB had built a five-bed temporary hospital, with doctors and paramedics, at both venues of the matches.
Tickets would be sold online and could be printed at home. People would sit two seats apart, wear masks and groups had to be members of the same family.
Pakistan had largely been starved of international cricket since a 2009 attack on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, which killed eight Pakistanis and wounded six players and a British coach. The incident forced Pakistan to play home matches in the United Arab Emirates, with foreign players refusing to play on Pakistani soil.
But the unprecedented popularity of PSL, which brought 40 foreign players to the country in 2019, is seen as pivotal in changing the global cricket community’s opinion of Pakistan’s ability to host international matches.
Over 80 million people, roughly 70 percent of Pakistan’s TV-viewing public, tuned in to watch the final game of the series last year.
Six teams play in the series, representing the cities of Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta and Multan.
Pakistan announces coronavirus guidelines for Pakistan Super League cricket matches
https://arab.news/gm6js
Pakistan announces coronavirus guidelines for Pakistan Super League cricket matches
- Matches to be played with only 20% spectators at two stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, tickets to be sold online
- Temporary hospitals set up at both venues, people to sit two seats apart, groups must be members of same family
Rescuers evacuate dozens to safety amid heavy snowfall in northwest Pakistan
- Khyber, Swat and South Waziristan are areas worst affected by snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Authorities say rescue operations ongoing, process of clearing roads underway in affected areas
ISLAMABAD: Rescuers evacuated dozens of stranded residents to safety as heavy snowfall blanketed several mountainous districts, blocked roads and cut off villages in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, authorities said on Friday.
Rescue 1122 teams are operating in different areas of Tirah valley in KP’s Khyber district and shifted over 40 people, including children, to safe locations. The evacuees were provided with food, warm clothes and bedding, according to Rescue 1122 spokesman Bilal Faizi.
Around 55 people, who had been stranded in 20 vehicles in Sandana area, were rescued. Rescue 1122 teams from Peshawar, Swabi and Nowshera are participating in rescue operations, which continue despite difficulties due to slippery roads and heavy snow.
“People are stranded at various places due to heavy snowfall,” KP government spokesman Shafi Jan said in a statement. “Contact with some areas is not possible due to the suspension of [mobile] signals and road closures, however, rescue operations are ongoing.”
Separately, several people were stranded in four vehicles in Bahrain area of KP’s Swat, according to Rescue 1122.
“As soon as the information was received, the rescue disaster and medical teams immediately reached the scene,” the rescue service said. “The rescue personnel, taking professional action, safely shifted all the people to a safe place and also safely recovered the stranded vehicles.”
The process of clearing snow from the Malam Jabba Road, Kalam and other areas was being carried out, according to local authorities. Heavy snowfall has disrupted traffic on several roads in South Waziristan’s Ladha town as well.
Provincial authorities have not yet reported any loss of life.
Snowstorms have proven deadly in Pakistan in the past. At least 21 people, including children, died in January 2022 after they were stuck in freezing temperatures during a snowstorm in the Pakistani hill station of Murree.
Tens of thousands of tourists flock to Pakistan’s scenic areas in northwestern KP to witness snowfall every winter, often neglecting warnings from disaster management authorities amid dangerous weather conditions.
