Dubai: 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. 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.
Pakistan journalists, who were reporting matches in Dubai, revealed that drills were conducted in and around the Gaddafi stadium to handle any emergency situation.
It is understood that even a 20-bed makeshift hospital has been set up at the National Hockey Stadium located next to the Gaddafi stadium. A presidential level security cover is being provided for the teams.
The rush for the ticket continued in Lahore and Karachi with people crowding around TCS, a leading courier and logistics company that has been entrusted with the ticket sales. Lower denominations tickets were sold out within a few hours but high priced tickets are on sale.
Misbah injured
Islamabad United captain Misbah-ul Haq will miss the remaining matches of the PSL. It has been diagnosed that he has a hairline fracture on his wrist after being hit by a bouncer from left-arm fast bowler Tymal Mills during the final league-round match against Karachi Kings in Sharjah on Friday. Haq has been advised to undergo treatment for four weeks though he was wanting to play the match taking a painkiller. JP Duminy will lead the team.
Huge welcome awaits Afridi
A huge welcome awaits Afridi who will play for Karachi in the eliminators. A milestone which he achieved in Sharjah during the Karachi-Islamabad match on Friday had gone unnoticed. He has bagged his 300th T20 wicket when he bowled Chadwick Walton with his quicker delivery. Incidentally, Afridi is only the fourth player in the world to have bagged 300 wickets in the shortest format of the game.
Foreign commentators
Foreign commentators Damien Fleming and Danny Morrison decided against flying to Pakistan due to family commitments. Alan Wilkins, Dareen Ganga and Michael Slater have flown to Pakistan and will join Pakistan commentators Rameez Raja and Bazid Khan to provide live commentary for the eliminators and final.
