Good news for Pakistan fans – Karachi and Lahore to host PSL matches next year

Although spot-fixing in the recently concluded second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) brought shame to the country, for which five cricketers have been suspended, the popular T20 league also brought joy to local fans when it successfully hosted the finals of the marquee tournament in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, defying all security threats and proving that cricket is still alive in the country.

In another positive development, it is learnt that PSL action will set up the lights in the stadiums of Karachi and Lahore in the next edition of the tournament. On Thursday, during a session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination, Subhan Ahmed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief operating officer confirmed that the country will host eight matches of PSL 2018, with Lahore and Karachi both set to host four matches each.

“TV ratings for Pakistan-India matches usually go up to 10, but the PSL final saw ratings of 21,” he said of the final in Lahore which was a huge success.

Pakistan had hosted a solitary international series since the 2009 attacks on the Sri Lanka team. During the buildup to the PSL final, there had been several threatening incidents across the country, including a blast in Lahore’s own Defence Housing Authority which killed at least 10 people and injured more than that. But the arrangements for the finals were such that nothing could interrupt the proceedings.

“I have enjoyed playing a cricket match [in Lahore] and I have even enjoyed being with the security guys as I have never seen something like this before so it was a good experience. It is hopefully a step in the right direction, where things could happen. What I can say is that being here felt like playing in St Lucia, playing in India or anywhere else in the world,” Darren Sammy was quoted as saying after the finals.