Lahore wears fresh look to stage PSL play-offs
LAHORE (92 News) – Lahore wears a fresh look to stage two back to back play offs, of the third edition of the Pakistan Super League on today (March 20) and tomorrow (March 21) at Gaddafi Stadium as the cricket festivity returns to the provincial capital after almost five months.
The foreign players and staff members of Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings including Darren Sammy, Liam Dawson, Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, and Chris Jordan, Ravi Bopara, Tymal Mills, Joe Denly, David Wiese, Lendl Simmons, and Colin Ingram have reached Lahore today.
The players were taken to their hotel amid stringent security protocol. All the foreign players who flew to Pakistan were briefed in Dubai on the security arrangements for the teams in the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League.
While Islamabad United flew straight to Karachi for the final, the other three teams — Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings flew from Dubai to Lahore.
On the other hand, all necessary arrangements have been finalized for peaceful holding of two eliminator stage play-off matches of the PSL, at Gaddafi Stadium, while shops and offices located around Lahore Gaddafi stadium has been closed for three days and a police contingent of 18,000 personnel have been posted to guard the venue. The Gadaffi stadium has a capacity of 27,000 seats.
A comprehensive traffic plan has been chalked out to ensure smooth traffic flow around Stadium and other areas of city. More than 2,000 Traffic Wardens will perform duties on the occasion.
To facilitate general public, both sides of the Canal Road, the Jail Road and the Mall will remain open for normal traffic. Spacious parking areas have been designated in nearby areas of Stadium, for cricket enthusiasts from where they will be taken to the Stadium by free bus shuttle service.
A 20-bed makeshift highly equipped hospital has been set up at the National Hockey Stadium to meet any emergency.
Meanwhile, expressing displeasure, skipper of Quetta Gladiators and Pakistan cricket captain, Sarfraz Ahmad said those foreign players who backed out of their commitment of visiting Pakistan to play the semi finals of the third edition of the PSL should not be a part of players draft of the next edition of the mega event.
“It is not fair on part of such foreign players to back out of their commitment at the last minute as they were ready to come to Pakistan”, he said on the eve of the his teams match against Peshawar Zalmi at Gaddafi stadium. Make shift captain of Peshawar, Muhammad Hafeez was also present.
The players were taken to their hotel amid stringent security protocol. All the foreign players who flew to Pakistan were briefed in Dubai on the security arrangements for the teams in the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League.
While Islamabad United flew straight to Karachi for the final, the other three teams — Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings flew from Dubai to Lahore.
On the other hand, all necessary arrangements have been finalized for peaceful holding of two eliminator stage play-off matches of the PSL, at Gaddafi Stadium, while shops and offices located around Lahore Gaddafi stadium has been closed for three days and a police contingent of 18,000 personnel have been posted to guard the venue. The Gadaffi stadium has a capacity of 27,000 seats.
A comprehensive traffic plan has been chalked out to ensure smooth traffic flow around Stadium and other areas of city. More than 2,000 Traffic Wardens will perform duties on the occasion.
To facilitate general public, both sides of the Canal Road, the Jail Road and the Mall will remain open for normal traffic. Spacious parking areas have been designated in nearby areas of Stadium, for cricket enthusiasts from where they will be taken to the Stadium by free bus shuttle service.
A 20-bed makeshift highly equipped hospital has been set up at the National Hockey Stadium to meet any emergency.
Meanwhile, expressing displeasure, skipper of Quetta Gladiators and Pakistan cricket captain, Sarfraz Ahmad said those foreign players who backed out of their commitment of visiting Pakistan to play the semi finals of the third edition of the PSL should not be a part of players draft of the next edition of the mega event.
“It is not fair on part of such foreign players to back out of their commitment at the last minute as they were ready to come to Pakistan”, he said on the eve of the his teams match against Peshawar Zalmi at Gaddafi stadium. Make shift captain of Peshawar, Muhammad Hafeez was also present.
