"A proposal has been tabled to allocate the PSL final to Karachi" : Najam Sethi

[Abdullah719]

LAHORE, Oct 31 (APP):Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi said on Tuesday that a new proposal has come forward to host the final of the next edition of Pakistan Super League at Karachi and the play off matches at Lahore.

”Before we have decided to stage two to three matches of the PSL at Karachi and now a new proposal has been tabled to allocate the final to the port city“, he told media after the final of the AH. Kardar national school championship at Qaddafi stadium.

He said it will be his effort that PSL final should take place at Karachi.

PCB Chief said the Sri Lankan team has left Pakistan with pleasant and lasting memories after playing third and the last T20 international here.

“The visiting Lankan Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera at a meeting with Federal Inter Provincial Minister, Riaz Pirzada agreed to have more sports ties between the two countries”, he said.

“We will making efforts to have Pak-Lanka series in Pakistan“, said Najam Sethi.

To a question he said the tour programme of West Indies to Pakistan will be finalised in few days.

He said it was a heartening sign that Pakistan will be hosting the emerging Asia Cricket Cup next year in April.

“At this stage I don’t know if India is going to participate in the Asia Cup, in case they refuse to take part they will lose points as per the policy of the International Cricket Council“, said Najam Sethi.

Director Cricket Operations PCB, Haroon Rasheed who was present on the occasion, said the change in the dates of the domestic T20 tournament were made due to visit of the foreign teams as their tour dates were decided at the last minute.

“In such circumstances we were left with no option but to change the dates of T20 event which will now be held from November 28 at Faisalabad”, he said adding ”In the meanwhile the dates of West Indies team tour will also be decided“.

To a question he said in order to restore international cricket in Pakistan they are adjusting the dates of the national events as resumption of international cricket in the country is the top priority, ”We have to make make-shift measures when ever such a situation arises and you can not compare PCB with Australia, New Zealand and England as far holding of the domestic events and holding of the international matches are concerned“, he said.

To a question he said with the revival of international cricket a new era of cricket has started in the country.

https://www.app.com.pk/proposal-to-host-psl-final-at-karachi-play-offs-at-lahore-najam-sethi/

 

[mmkextreme_1]

So from this, it seems that West Indies tour is on at the end of November.

I think for this tour we will be touring them back too.

 

[MMHS]

This is the right time - there are 34 matches; PCB should force foreign players to play at least half of the matches in PAK - Karachi, Lahore, Multan & F'bad 3 games each, then the last 4 at the big 2 cities - UAE can get 18 matches on their 3 venues. Next year, those 12 becomes 24, may be even all 34 matches can be played in PAK.

What I understand is that most players will tour PAK is enough money is given and most Cricket boards won't be able to block their players on security issues from individual contracts. By 3rd year, PSL should be more established, rather than who is playing, the City based brand should become bigger.

 

[Rana]

Good step. Karachi deserves cricket. People of Lahore must be bankrupt and exhausted with all the high ticket prices and OTT security checks

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

LAHORE, Oct 31 (APP):Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi said on Tuesday that a new proposal has come forward to host the final of the next edition of Pakistan Super League at Karachi and the play off matches at Lahore.

”Before we have decided to stage two to three matches of the PSL at Karachi and now a new proposal has been tabled to allocate the final to the port city“, he told media after the final of the AH. Kardar national school championship at Qaddafi stadium.

He said it will be his effort that PSL final should take place at Karachi.

PCB Chief said the Sri Lankan team has left Pakistan with pleasant and lasting memories after playing third and the last T20 international here.

“The visiting Lankan Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera at a meeting with Federal Inter Provincial Minister, Riaz Pirzada agreed to have more sports ties between the two countries”, he said.

“We will making efforts to have Pak-Lanka series in Pakistan“, said Najam Sethi.

To a question he said the tour programme of West Indies to Pakistan will be finalised in few days.

He said it was a heartening sign that Pakistan will be hosting the emerging Asia Cricket Cup next year in April.

“At this stage I don’t know if India is going to participate in the Asia Cup, in case they refuse to take part they will lose points as per the policy of the International Cricket Council“, said Najam Sethi.

Director Cricket Operations PCB, Haroon Rasheed who was present on the occasion, said the change in the dates of the domestic T20 tournament were made due to visit of the foreign teams as their tour dates were decided at the last minute.

“In such circumstances we were left with no option but to change the dates of T20 event which will now be held from November 28 at Faisalabad”, he said adding ”In the meanwhile the dates of West Indies team tour will also be decided“.

To a question he said in order to restore international cricket in Pakistan they are adjusting the dates of the national events as resumption of international cricket in the country is the top priority, ”We have to make make-shift measures when ever such a situation arises and you can not compare PCB with Australia, New Zealand and England as far holding of the domestic events and holding of the international matches are concerned“, he said.

To a question he said with the revival of international cricket a new era of cricket has started in the country.

https://www.app.com.pk/proposal-to-host-psl-final-at-karachi-play-offs-at-lahore-najam-sethi/

I think it has been misprinted in this report. Actually new dates have been decided for national t20 as 11 nov-28 nov.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I’m definitely going to go if it’s held here!

 

[Suleiman]

Oh wow PCB realized Karachi is in Pakistan as well.

Progress.

 

[MightyObnoxious]

Good step. Karachi deserves cricket. People of Lahore must be bankrupt and exhausted with all the high ticket prices and OTT security checks

True. Half the city gets shut down. Even Unis and markets get a week off.

 

[InziRules]

I think it's very easy to hold the final here, depending on how well PCB coordinates with the Navy.

There are Pakistan Navy bases right across the road from National Stadium, with housing in them. There would be no need to shut off half the city either, you'll need to block 2 roads, and pass the traffic via University Road and there would be no issue if you can accommodate cricketers in the base there. The only time you'd need to close roads would be the trip to and from the airport, because inside the base is completely safe.

 

[predictablyunpredictable]

I think it's very easy to hold the final here, depending on how well PCB coordinates with the Navy.

There are Pakistan Navy bases right across the road from National Stadium, with housing in them. There would be no need to shut off half the city either, you'll need to block 2 roads, and pass the traffic via University Road and there would be no issue if you can accommodate cricketers in the base there. The only time you'd need to close roads would be the trip to and from the airport, because inside the base is completely safe.

So, what about the nearby Hospital. Will they have to shut down that as well?

 

[InziRules]

So, what about the nearby Hospital. Will they have to shut down that as well?

No need at all. Shut off traffic from that road towards Millennium. That road can be the one blocked, also block the road from Hasan Square to Stadium. You can go from Hasan square to Aga Khan via New Town as well.

The Naval base is on the opposite side and stretches from there towards Millennium, and also towards Karsaz end as well. If you've gone inside, you'll see it's all interconnected, even though the names of the area change, and there's security on every entrance, which can be beefed up when they come. It's more than possible to hold it in Karachi without causing hindrance

Lahore has same issues btw, Karachi's is actually easier

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

while the actual threat in karachi to players will be lower, the perceived threat by forgein players will be far higher.

Cant see this happening without ICC backing

 

[Rana]

The way it seems, all cricket in Pakistan will be a venue by venue scenario. Just because the level of trust has increased 10 fold for Lahore doesnt necessarily constitute the same level of Trust for other larger venues. If Karachi is to host cricket, PCB will have to start again from scratch the way they did with Zimbabwe and the PSL final in which they lost the key players.

 

[waleed88]

The way it seems, all cricket in Pakistan will be a venue by venue scenario. Just because the level of trust has increased 10 fold for Lahore doesnt necessarily constitute the same level of Trust for other larger venues. If Karachi is to host cricket, PCB will have to start again from scratch the way they did with Zimbabwe and the PSL final in which they lost the key players.

Don't think its that, Karachi has been much safer than Lahore in the past 2 years.

 

[InziRules]

The way it seems, all cricket in Pakistan will be a venue by venue scenario. Just because the level of trust has increased 10 fold for Lahore doesnt necessarily constitute the same level of Trust for other larger venues. If Karachi is to host cricket, PCB will have to start again from scratch the way they did with Zimbabwe and the PSL final in which they lost the key players.

Agreed. We can start with U19 and A team tours.

Tbh, from a security perspective, the location of all our stadiums are a nightmare. It might be cheaper in the long run to actually get a remote stadium (Not Lahore or Karachi)

 

[Syed1]

Shukar hai inko Lahore ke bahar ka bhi Pakistan ka khayal aya

 

[Syed1]

Agreed. We can start with U19 and A team tours.

Tbh, from a security perspective, the location of all our stadiums are a nightmare. It might be cheaper in the long run to actually get a remote stadium (Not Lahore or Karachi)

Major stadiums around the world are near city centers and populated areas. This means the venue of the sporting event is convenient for the actual people it is being held for. Ever wonder why Dubai hardly ever gets a packed stadium? Because it is in the middle of freaking no where.


Building remote stadiums is the exact opposite thing we need to do.

 

[Rana]

Don't think its that, Karachi has been much safer than Lahore in the past 2 years.

Yes, you can convince me and other Pakistanis. But try convincing the western perception about which city is more safer than the other. To them, Pakistan is Pakistan no matter if its Lahore or Bahawalpur.

 

[Ocelot]

Once the Bahria Town Karachi's Rafi cricket stadium gets build, it'll be easy to conduct matches, as due to it being a gated community it will be very secure.

Spoiler

 

[Syed1]

Once the Bahria Town Karachi's Rafi cricket stadium gets build, it'll be easy to conduct matches, as due to it being a gated community it will be very secure.

Spoiler

View attachment 77035

Karachi security situation is much much better than Lahore. Doesn't prevent PCB from holding matches there... why we need gated community and remote stadiums to hold matches in Karachi?

 

[predictablyunpredictable]

No need at all. Shut off traffic from that road towards Millennium. That road can be the one blocked, also block the road from Hasan Square to Stadium. You can go from Hasan square to Aga Khan via New Town as well.

The Naval base is on the opposite side and stretches from there towards Millennium, and also towards Karsaz end as well. If you've gone inside, you'll see it's all interconnected, even though the names of the area change, and there's security on every entrance, which can be beefed up when they come. It's more than possible to hold it in Karachi without causing hindrance

Lahore has same issues btw, Karachi's is actually easier

Thanks man. It is really informative.

 

[InziRules]

Karachi security situation is much much better than Lahore. Doesn't prevent PCB from holding matches there... why we need gated community and remote stadiums to hold matches in Karachi?

I was talking generally btw, not just about Karachi.

Like I said, it's easy to hold in Karachi, even without barring the roads. If you want to keep them in PC or some place around there, again, Shahrah Faisal through to Karsaz to Stadium is another route, and even that can be secured

 

[InziRules]

Btw, you could hold it in Hyderabad and you'd need security, even though there have never been terror attacks there. Terrorists deliberately target these tours, previous attacks in the area are irrelevant

 

[fasihulhaq94]

Don't think its that, Karachi has been much safer than Lahore in the past 2 years.

you are thinking in term of terrorist attacks. The overall safety situation in lahore is much better compared to karachi

 

[Syed1]

you are thinking in term of terrorist attacks. The overall safety situation in lahore is much better compared to karachi

Any stats to back that or just he said she said?

 

[Sirris]

As someone from a "small" city, I can't stand these overly exaggerated and emotional "banter" among people from these two "big" cities. I just hope to get some sort of international standard cricketing event in Karachi behind us, so that for a while we atleast stop hearing over the top comments from both sides.

Even if you exaggerate the numbers, the population of these two cities adds up to 40million. The economic contribution of each city has it's own value but this is sports. Why can't they be just grow up and learn to enjoy the match no matter where they are held, like the rest of the 160 million population? These are just initial efforts to begin with and not some kind of a major breakthrough. Why can't we be cooperative instead of being competitive over nothing but imaginary self-esteem points!

Whether in lahore or Karachi, for now I can't visit either of the matches but I hope with gradual progress, international matches would be a norm in Pakistan and when the opportunity arises I would have plenty of option form a venue of my liking to choose from.

Competition only brings resentment against each other in the long-term and I can't stand it when we are competitive against our own fellow countrymen. That's as dumb as your left and right hand being competitive against each other.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

As someone from a "small" city, I can't stand these overly exaggerated and emotional "banter" among people from these two "big" cities. I just hope to get some sort of international standard cricketing event in Karachi behind us, so that for a while we atleast stop hearing over the top comments from both sides.

Even if you exaggerate the numbers, the population of these two cities adds up to 40million. The economic contribution of each city has it's own value but this is sports. Why can't they be just grow up and learn to enjoy the match no matter where they are held, like the rest of the 160 million population? These are just initial efforts to begin with and not some kind of a major breakthrough. Why can't we be cooperative instead of being competitive over nothing but imaginary self-esteem points!

Whether in lahore or Karachi, for now I can't visit either of the matches but I hope with gradual progress, international matches would be a norm in Pakistan and when the opportunity arises I would have plenty of option form a venue of my liking to choose from.

Competition only brings resentment against each other in the long-term and I can't stand it when we are competitive against our own fellow countrymen. That's as dumb as your left and right hand being competitive against each other.

Competitiveness is the essence of every rivalry. Without rivalries the game becomes dull and boring. A healthy rivalry brings mutual respect and this what both cities need. Obviously it becomes very frustrating to see that one city gets so much cricket despite that very city being the reason for the loss of international cricketing activities in Pakistan. But there no harm in having sporting rivalries as it pushes each other to their limits and beyond.

 

[Hermoine Green]

Excellent, will definitely watch it then.

 

[Varun]

As someone from a "small" city, I can't stand these overly exaggerated and emotional "banter" among people from these two "big" cities. I just hope to get some sort of international standard cricketing event in Karachi behind us, so that for a while we atleast stop hearing over the top comments from both sides.

Even if you exaggerate the numbers, the population of these two cities adds up to 40million. The economic contribution of each city has it's own value but this is sports. Why can't they be just grow up and learn to enjoy the match no matter where they are held, like the rest of the 160 million population? These are just initial efforts to begin with and not some kind of a major breakthrough. Why can't we be cooperative instead of being competitive over nothing but imaginary self-esteem points!

Whether in lahore or Karachi, for now I can't visit either of the matches but I hope with gradual progress, international matches would be a norm in Pakistan and when the opportunity arises I would have plenty of option form a venue of my liking to choose from.

Competition only brings resentment against each other in the long-term and I can't stand it when we are competitive against our own fellow countrymen. That's as dumb as your left and right hand being competitive against each other.

Very good post.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

you are thinking in term of terrorist attacks. The overall safety situation in lahore is much better compared to karachi

Yes,2 muggers on a bike are going to hold a team bus hostage to steal their phones )

Obviously teams are likely to be targets of terrorist attacks in either city.

Btw I don’t particularly care which city the matches are being held in,as long as they are in Pakistan.