Muhammad10
T20I Debutant
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2013
- Runs
- 6,284
This week's POTW is awarded to a wonderfully written post regarding the PSL final in Lahore.
Congratulations! [MENTION=6745]DHONI183[/MENTION]
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...ricket-fans-and-players&p=9137688#post9137688
Congratulations! [MENTION=6745]DHONI183[/MENTION]
http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...ricket-fans-and-players&p=9137688#post9137688
The atmosphere in Pakistan has been such over this that it seems like a festival, a carnival. Whereas a lot of you at least watched Zimbabwe´s tour of the country in 2015, I didn´t even do that because no channel was showing that over here in Europe; and I´m not too much into following cricket on online streams. So it´s after eight years that I´ll be watching a game from Pakistan, it is an as emotional occasion for me as it is for a lot of you. My brother´s family has slept-over at our place, both my sisters´ families too will be here by 4 PM our time. Everyone´s hugely excited and waiting for the final.
A lot of childhood and teenage memories are attached with watching games on TV from the Lahore stadium, my favourite from Pakistan. Crowd and atmosphere-wise at least, things were never the same in the UAE, and above all I missed seeing shalwaar-kameez-clad men with mustache making noises, shouting and waving hand each time they noticed of themselves being on the screen.
I just don´t hope, I´m a hundred percent sure that things will go smoothly without trouble, it´s the army of a country after all that´s taken the responsibility of the security, so there´s no doubt for me that it´ll go well. Whether the same level of security can be repeated a whole series or tournament is another question, keeping also in mind the expenses of such efforts. So for now, given the situation and bearing in mind the series of blasts that recently took place in the country, including a big one in Lahore, a final a year might be the most feasible option, and one that the PCB can achieve at best. If all goes well and if the security too is good and can be promised of the same level the coming years too, then I´m all for a final a year in the country.
The foreign players who´ve declined to tour the country, their concerns and decision need to be respected, especially after the attack on the Sri Lankan team made cricket a very possible and open target for terrorists. Even if a player might be thinking of coming or not yet fully decided on what to do, his family and friends would put pressure, which´s very understandable. I do believe however that if this year´s final, or also the one next year etc., goes well then foreign might also begin to see this as a possibility.
Although in the grand scheme of things it hardly matters here, but I´m a bit concerned on how much of an even contest it´ll be with Peshawar´s all first-choice foreign players making the trip and none from amongst Quetta´s. The PCB need to find a better solution to this problem for the future than the one they´ve provided through the list of players available for the final, who´re not quite world-beaters, if I may say without intending any offence.
So, despite being a huge Peshawar fan and supporter throughout both the editions, I´ve bit of a soft corner here for Quetta for the aforementioned reasons. If it still turns out to be the kind of thrillers we´ve had in the whole tournament so far, then no complaints. This is T20 cricket after all and one player on his own can run away with the game within the blink of an eye. If Shehzad clicks then anything´s possible, which I hope happen for the sake of the contest and the crowd.
Over to Lahore!
