Karachi: Pakistan hopes to host their Twenty20 league final on homesoil next year if cricket authorities are able to allay security fears of international players, an official said Saturday.
Pakistan has not staged major international cricket events on its home grounds — barring a few limited over matches against lowly ranked Zimbabwe last year — since terrorists attacks targeted the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.
Following the attacks, they have been forced to stage their home series on neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates, where they also hosted the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) in February this year.
PSL chairman Najam Sethi said all efforts will be done to host the PSL final in Lahore. “We will try our best to stage the final of the second edition of PSL in Pakistan,” said Sethi after chairing a meeting in Lahore.
Five teams competed in the inaugural league which also featured top names like West Indians Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy, Australian Shane Watson and England’s Kevin Pietersen.
But they all refused to come to Pakistan, a trend which is likely to be followed next year as foreigners have reservations about coming to terror-hit Pakistan.
Sethi said the success of the inaugural PSL was encouraging.
“We are buoyed by the success of PSL last year and things are now getting into an exciting phase for season two. I can promise we will leave no stone unturned in bringing unparalleled cricketainment to the fans,” said Sethi.
Twenty20 leagues are fast getting popular across the cricketing world since India launched its cash-rich Indian Premier League in 2008.
