Franchise owners reluctant to host PSL final in Lahore

[Abdul]

DUBAI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s efforts to bring international cricket back to the country suffered a blow after two franchise owners expressed concerns over holding the final of the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Lahore.

PSL chairman has insisted that the league’s final fixture will be held in Pakistan. However, following a wave of terror across the country this week, franchise owners are reluctant to host the final in the Punjab capital.

Team owners will meet Sethi on Monday to decide the venue for the final, The Express Tribune has learnt.

“A meeting will be on Monday to decide if the final will be held in Lahore or somewhere else,” a source privy to the matter told The Express Tribune. “Franchise owners will voice their concerns in the meeting.”

“It is not a good idea to hold the final in Lahore, especially after the terror attacks last week,” one of the franchise owners told this scribe. “God forbid if even there is one death during the match or a blast near the venue…not only Pakistan cricket will suffer, it can also put the future of PSL in danger.”

Another owner said Pakistanis should wait for one more year to welcome PSL back home. “It is a huge risk in taking these players back to Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, it is also believed that some international players may not get the NOC from their respective boards to play the fixture in Lahore.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1332433/franchise-owners-reluctant-host-psl-final-lahore/

 

[MenInG]

I think they have every right to be concerned.

There are commercial interests involved and a reputation to be built.

Smarter move should have been to have few Peshawar games in Peshawar and leave it like that.

 

[Sports_Psychologist]

I think they have every right to be concerned.

There are commercial interests involved and a reputation to be built.

Smarter move should have been to have few Peshawar games in Peshawar and leave it like that.

The point that the future of PSL will be in doubts if any there's any incident that gave me a chill... That's a good point... Shouldn't risk PSL just to bring cricket to Lahore...

 

[coy0607]

I think they have every right to be concerned.

There are commercial interests involved and a reputation to be built.

Smarter move should have been to have few Peshawar games in Peshawar and leave it like that.

yep.. PSL owners have made huge investments and by having the final in Lahore they have a lot more to lose than to gain

why put your investments at risk

 

[Haroon786]

I think they have every right to be concerned.

There are commercial interests involved and a reputation to be built.

Smarter move should have been to have few Peshawar games in Peshawar and leave it like that.

Not necessarily convincing to have a few games in Peshawar, KPK over 1 game in Lahore.

 

[badsha001]

Psl final should be in Lahore, Islamabad united won't be playing final so noone should care about their opinion...

 

[Madplayer]

Smarter move should have been to have few Peshawar games in Peshawar and leave it like that.

Peshawar wanting it to happen doesnt really matter because The other franchise has to agree to play them in Peshawar too. And the expenditure involved in making something like this happen would be massive. I mean half the tournament in UAE and then some of it in Peshawar, Travelling hence and forth again and again doesn't sound good. There are other factors as well which make it seem improbable. But i know, desperation can make them attempt anything.

 

[Pakpak]

Have it in Pindi? Faisalabad? The latter esp is VERY safe.

 

[Mamoon]

Faisalabad is not a feasible option. It will be difficult to have a full house for the final there, and the foreign players cannot be convinced that this city is safer than that city. For them, the whole of Pakistan is dangerous.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

KK, QG and PZ ... Foregin players from these franchises could be convinced to play the final in lahore if they qualify... the other 2 teams have their foreign players mainly from ENG, AUS and NZL which will be a big no from them personally and their boards will also not give an NOC...

 

[Barragan]

That pretty much settles it.

The final will not be played in Lahore.

 

[marlonbrowndo]

Faisalabad is not a feasible option. It will be difficult to have a full house for the final there, and the foreign players cannot be convinced that this city is safer than that city. For them, the whole of Pakistan is dangerous.

There's no way that there won't be a full house if the final is in Faisalabad

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

Faisalabad is not a feasible option. It will be difficult to have a full house for the final there, and the foreign players cannot be convinced that this city is safer than that city. For them, the whole of Pakistan is dangerous.

You sure about faisalabad not to have full house? I would say it will be completely sold out

 

[Rayyman]

Honestly, PSL could've been held in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi. The foreign players need to man up. Everybody dies one day. You can't run from death like that. And Pakistan players play in the country all the time. None of them have died. Only bad thing recently was the fire, but that's it. But I guess you can't pressure the players in going and it's their decision ultimately.

 

[Slog]

I dont understand why Lahore was the venue anyway?

The simple fact is that terrorism in Lahore has been significantly higher than Karachi in recent years.

There have been some huge incidents there in last year and half

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

I know it's about money but it will go a long way in bringing PSL back to Pakistan if the franchise owners are a bit nationalistic.

 

[saeed5646]

I dont understand why Lahore was the venue anyway?

The simple fact is that terrorism in Lahore has been significantly higher than Karachi in recent years.

There have been some huge incidents there in last year and half

Najam sethi =Nawaz/shahbaz shareef=credit to PMLN=lahore

that is why not in karachi which have 34228 capacity compare to lahore 27000

Sethi ko Pmln ko bhi to khush rakhna hai

 

[saeed5646]

My suggestion would be arrange a exhibition match between top two finalist of tournament after PSL 2 is over

Final should be in dubai this year .

 

[shariqnoor]

Seriously? Then why did they agree to have it in Lahore in the first place before the start of the tournament? Didn't they know there could have been blasts? Our administration is a joke regarding these matters. If we had to eventually backtrack, then why announce Lahore as a venue? Have close door meetings with franchise owners and the foreign players and if they were ok with Lahore, only then should the PCB have announced the final would be in Lahore.

 

[Major]

Faisalabad is not a feasible option. It will be difficult to have a full house for the final there, and the foreign players cannot be convinced that this city is safer than that city. For them, the whole of Pakistan is dangerous.

theres a better chance of having a full house in faisalabad than karachi or lahore.

 

[saeed5646]

PSL Final will be in lahore accroding to media reports

 

[mhraja]

Faisalabad is not a feasible option. It will be difficult to have a full house for the final there, and the foreign players cannot be convinced that this city is safer than that city. For them, the whole of Pakistan is dangerous.

Did you not follow the domestic ODI tourney in Faisalabad? and Faisal Bank T20 some years ago even that was sold out on weekends. PSL Final would be sold out for sure.

But your second point is correct and I would say that Faisalabad risk rating is higher than Lahore.

We must wait a year and work hard to make situation better before bringing cricket back to Pakistan. No cricket match is worth more than the lives of people.

 

[Tekcirc]

HAving PSL final in Lahore this year is very high risk and very little, in fact, no reward.

If it goes on without any incident, other countries will not change their mind one bit about playing in Pakistan.
Threat perceptions don't change on hosting of a single game.

If something happens, this would be remembered as the height of incompetency from Pakistani authorities and everyone would simply ask PCB to shut up about requesting games to be held in Pakistan for more than a decade.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Faisalabad is not a feasible option. It will be difficult to have a full house for the final there, and the foreign players cannot be convinced that this city is safer than that city. For them, the whole of Pakistan is dangerous.

U serious? Faisalabad always has had better crowd compared to Lahore and Karachi.

 

[saeed5646]

HAving PSL final in Lahore this year is very high risk and very little, in fact, no reward.

If it goes on without any incident, other countries will not change their mind one bit about playing in Pakistan.
Threat perceptions don't change on hosting of a single game.

If something happens, this would be remembered as the height of incompetency from Pakistani authorities and everyone would simply ask PCB to shut up about requesting games to be held in Pakistan for more than a decade.

it is now or never PSL in uae is useless and it is just one match not a big deal chill

 

[Tekcirc]

it is now or never PSL in uae is useless and it is just one match not a big deal chill

If something happens at the game for which PCB and Pakistani military is providing security, Pakistani cricket would be in a bottomless abyss.

Where is the upside for having such a stubborn attitude to have it in Lahore this year itself?

 

[Pakpak]

SHARJAH: The final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held in Lahore whether the foreign players agree to come or not, it was decided in a meeting between PSL Chairman Najam Sethi and the five franchise owners.
Earlier it was reported that the franchise owners had showed some reservations over the staging of the final at the Gaddafi Stadium, however, after a meeting with Sethi, all the franchise owners have agreed to play the PSL final in Lahore.



More to follow …

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1333142/decided-without-foreign-players-psl-final-will-held-lahore/

 

[saeed5646]

If something happens at the game for which PCB and Pakistani military is providing security, Pakistani cricket would be in a bottomless abyss.

Where is the upside for having such a stubborn attitude to have it in Lahore this year itself?

i can understand your frustration but PCB have hosted zim without any incident at the ground so

PCB can hold it in lahore .Presidential level security will be provided and player will fly in and fly out after

match on similar day so risk is minimum.

 

[mhraja]

i can understand your frustration but PCB have hosted zim without any incident at the ground so

PCB can hold it in lahore .Presidential level security will be provided and player will fly in and fly out after

match on similar day so risk is minimum.

That wasn't incident free my friends.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1185016

 

[dhump]

PSL final will be called Faisal Bank T20 tournament.

This is one of the biggest stupid decision really.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

PSL final will be called Faisal Bank T20 tournament.

This is one of the biggest stupid decision really.

Are you serious? This is the worst joke I have heard in some time.

ONLY the PCB could have come up with something like this.

 

[dhump]

Are you serious? This is the worst joke I have heard in some time.

ONLY the PCB could have come up with something like this.

They didn't named it this way, but what is the difference between Faisal Bank T20 and PSL Final without any foreign players/umpires etc.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The foreign players need to man up. Everybody dies one day. You can't run from death like that. And Pakistan players play in the country all the time. None of them have died.

Perhaps you should tweet that to the players in question.

 

[pacesensation]

There's no way that there won't be a full house if the final is in Faisalabad

lol what does mamoon knows about faisalabad. As far as i know he has been living in peshawar mostly. I have lived in faisalabad for quite a while, went to see pak vs india and pak vs eng test matches. Dude, it was a house full even in test matches but that team has inzi afrdi, akhtar etc. However, its t20 we are talking about to its reasonable to say that it will be a house full.

However, i think it will be very hard to convince every key foreign player in psl to go to faisalabad. Besides, they were talking about lahore.

Regards

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

lol what does mamoon knows about faisalabad. As far as i know he has been living in peshawar mostly. I have lived in faisalabad for quite a while, went to see pak vs india and pak vs eng test matches. Dude, it was a house full even in test matches but that team has inzi afrdi, akhtar etc. However, its t20 we are talking about to its reasonable to say that it will be a house full.

However, i think it will be very hard to convince every key foreign player in psl to go to faisalabad. Besides, they were talking about lahore.

Regards

I am originally from Faisalabad as well and have followed every game or tournament since 2006. The crowd has never disappointed whereas Lahore and Karachi have had empty stands in the recent Faisal Bank T20 tournaments.

Lahore is more popular though and better for tourists plus 'foodies'

 

[shariqnoor]

HAving PSL final in Lahore this year is very high risk and very little, in fact, no reward.

If it goes on without any incident, other countries will not change their mind one bit about playing in Pakistan.
Threat perceptions don't change on hosting of a single game.

If something happens, this would be remembered as the height of incompetency from Pakistani authorities and everyone would simply ask PCB to shut up about requesting games to be held in Pakistan for more than a decade.

It's already close to a decade since we last had intl. cricket in Pakistan. "If something happens", yeah just keep living in fear and procrastinate. No thanks. We will provide the best possible security and leave the rest up to Allah.

 

[Mamoon]

theres a better chance of having a full house in faisalabad than karachi or lahore.

You sure about faisalabad not to have full house? I would say it will be completely sold out

There's no way that there won't be a full house if the final is in Faisalabad

U serious? Faisalabad always has had better crowd compared to Lahore and Karachi.

You guys know about Faisalabad better so I'd take your word for it, but I would rather say a major city like Lahore or Karachi host the final. Nonetheless, the venue is pretty much relative because foreign players have an issue with playing in Pakistan, not just a particular city.

 

[Pakpak]

You guys know about Faisalabad better so I'd take your word for it, but I would rather say a major city like Lahore or Karachi host the final. Nonetheless, the venue is pretty much relative because foreign players have an issue with playing in Pakistan, not just a particular city.

Its not about being better but safer. Faisalabad has had virtually no attacks ever. Has a decent ground too, I went there in 99 or something like that when England came to Pakistan.

 

[Mamoon]

Its not about being better but safer. Faisalabad has had virtually no attacks ever. Has a decent ground too, I went there in 99 or something like that when England came to Pakistan.

Faisalabad is safe and so is Multan, and I know the grounds there are decent, but the point is that foreign players cannot be convinced that X is a safer city than Y.

Moving the final from Lahore to there will not encourage the likes of Gayle, Sangakkara, Bopara etc. to change their minds. In that case, it will be a pointless exercise and if we are adamant on hosting it in Pakistan regardless of whether foreign players agree or not, then there is no point in moving it from Lahore.

 

[Major]

You guys know about Faisalabad better so I'd take your word for it, but I would rather say a major city like Lahore or Karachi host the final. Nonetheless, the venue is pretty much relative because foreign players have an issue with playing in Pakistan, not just a particular city.

Faisalabad isnt safe.

But with psl yes that could be a target.

Faisalabad has always got more people at stadiums in faisal bank t20 than other coties. Because their isnt much entertainment in that city

 

[Mamoon]

Faisalabad isnt safe.

But with psl yes that could be a target.

Faisalabad has always got more people at stadiums in faisal bank t20 than other coties. Because their isnt much entertainment in that city

It's safe as things are, but yes hosting the final there will put it at risk.

 

[msb314]

Faisalabad isnt safe.

But with psl yes that could be a target.

Faisalabad has always got more people at stadiums in faisal bank t20 than other coties. Because their isnt much entertainment in that city

savage, brutal and absolutely true, i salute you

I hate to be blunt but this is rubbish.

The biggest and most important thing that Faisalabad has (and which every city has) are its people and human life.

Take that away and and you strike fear and chaos into a whole country - everything else can be replaced but people cannot.

 

[pacesensation]

I am originally from Faisalabad as well and have followed every game or tournament since 2006. The crowd has never disappointed whereas Lahore and Karachi have had empty stands in the recent Faisal Bank T20 tournaments.

Lahore is more popular though and better for tourists plus 'foodies'

agreed. I had a great time in faisalabad watching shoaib akhtar bowling to english batsmen. It was a nice sight.