ISLAMABAD: Spectators will return to cricket stadiums in Pakistan for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began when the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League begins in the southern port city of Karachi on Saturday.
The government has allowed the Pakistan Cricket Board to admit 20% capacity of fans inside the stadiums for the country’s premier Twenty20 league, maintaining proper social distancing and making masks mandatory for spectators.
The decision meant National Stadium in Karachi will accommodate 7,500 fans and Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium 5,500.
“Without crowd there was no enjoyment,” said Quetta Gladiators wicketkeeper/batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed. “It’s the great news that we will be playing in front of our own crowds after a long time.”
During the pandemic, the PCB successfully hosted two international series — against Zimbabwe and South Africa — in empty stadiums besides organizing more than 200 domestic cricket matches in a bio-secure bubble.
The PCB is confident that it is now well-versed in implementing its COVID-19 procedures, with only one local player being expelled for violating protocols during a domestic game.
More than 120 players, 60 support staff and about a dozen match officials will remain in a biosecure bubble for the PSL tournament.
“COVID-19 and cricket can co-exist, provided we follow the proper protocols,” PCB chairman Ehsan Mani said.
Mani admitted that a large number of fans will be disappointed due to limited seating available both in Karachi and Lahore. However, the government will review crowd capacity at Karachi’s Qaddafi Stadium before the playoffs and the final in Lahore next month.
Karachi Kings defeated archrivals Lahore Qalandars in the final in November after the PSL playoffs were postponed due to COVID-19 in last March. Just three months later, the defending champions will open the new season with a match against 2019 winners Quetta.
The six-team event also features two-time champions Islamabad United, last year’s third-place finisher Multan Sultans and 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi.
Several leading international Twenty20 cricketers will be in action over a month-long tournament with Chris Gayle, Ben Dunk, Chris Lynn and world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, Rashid Khan of Afghanistan.
Karachi will host the first 20 league games while Lahore will host the remaining 14 matches, including the final on March 22.
Karachi will be among the favorites for the title with Pakistan T20 regular Imad Wasim leading the side. They have an ideal set of openers — Pakistan Twenty20 skipper Babar Azam and hard-hitting batsman Sharjeel Khan. They also have experienced bowler Mohammad Amir and Afghanistan offspinner Mohammad Nabi.
Lahore has last year’s world top three Twenty20 wicket-takers among its ranks. Rashid might have to leave the side due to Afghanistan’s tour of Zimbabwe after playing in initial matches, but Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf form a formidable pace attack with experienced Mohammad Hafeez providing the nucleus of their batting.
Islamabad United, led by allrounder Shadab Khan, signed Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali. Hasan made a strong return to international cricket against South Africa after two years due to injuries.
Islamabad had a minor setback when they lost Colin Munro, who could not travel to Pakistan from New Zealand due to COVID-19 restrictions, so he was replaced with Australian spinner Fawad Ahmed.
Quetta did make the playoffs for the first time last year. The side has Australian allrounder Ben Cutting, who could prove handy in the middle order with his clean hitting along with England’s Twenty20 specialist opening batsman Tom Banton.
Peshawar Zalmi will be led by fast bowler Wahab Riaz and has the two most experienced Twenty20 players in Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik. South Africa’s David Miller will strengthen the batting lineup in the second half of the tournament, but they have young hard-hitting batsman Haider Ali and England’s experienced Ravi Bopara among their ranks.
Pakistan Super League T20 tournament marks return of fans to stadiums
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Pakistan Super League T20 tournament marks return of fans to stadiums
- Government has allowed Pakistan Cricket Board to admit 20% capacity of fans inside stadiums for the country’s premier Twenty20 league
- During the pandemic, PCB successfully hosted two international series against Zimbabwe and South Africa in empty stadiums
Pakistan army hits Afghan Taliban drone storage facility, ammunition depot in Jalalabad
- Around 435 Afghan Taliban fighters killed, over 630 injured in Pakistani military offensive, minister says
- Several countries, global bodies have urged both sides to exercise restraint since the conflict began last week
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army struck a drone storage facility and ammunition depot of Afghan Taliban in Jalalabad, a Pakistani security official said on Monday, following Pakistani strikes on more than 50 locations in Afghanistan amid ongoing hostilities between the neighbors.
Pakistan launched Operation ‘Ghazb lil Haq’ against Afghanistan on the night of Feb. 26 following an attack by Afghanistan on Pakistani military installations along their shared border.
The worst fighting between the two neighbors in years erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad called militant hideouts inside Afghanistan on Feb. 21-22, accusing Kabul of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants behind the attacks on its soil. Afghanistan denies the charge.
A Pakistani security official, who requested anonymity, said the army was continuing “strong retaliatory action” against the Afghan Taliban and blew up multiple border posts, forcing them to abandon their positions.
“Pakistan forces are effectively targeting the bases and military installations of the Fitna Al-Khawarij and the Afghan Taliban,” he said.
“During the effective counter-operation of the Pakistani forces, the ammunition depot and drone storage site of Fitna Al-Khawarij (TTP) and the Afghan Taliban in Jalalabad was destroyed.”
Separately, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said more than 400 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and over 630 wounded in the Pakistani military offensive so far.
Pakistan destroyed around 188 check posts and captured 31, according to a post on X by Tarar. Over 180 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns were also destroyed in Pakistani air raids at 51 locations across Afghanistan.
On Sunday, Pakistani state media shared a video of what it said were Pakistani soldiers crossing into Afghanistan in the northwest to capture an Afghan post. Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area of Afghanistan, another Pakistani security official said.
Afghan officials earlier said that dozens of Pakistani soldiers had been killed and several Pakistan posts had been captured by their forces. None of the casualty figures or battlefield claims from either side could be independently verified.
Since the conflict began last week, diplomatic efforts have intensified, with several countries and international bodies calling on both sides to exercise restraint.
The United Nations, along with China and Russia, has called for calm, while US President Donald Trump said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
