Notwithstanding a significant terrorist incident that occurred in Karachi on Friday, the PSL is expected to go on as usual. Both the Quetta Gladiators and the Karachi Kings will have full-strength teams for their match on Saturday at the National Stadium in Karachi, according to the PCB.
On Friday night, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists attacked the Karachi Police station next to Shara-e-Faisal, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. Around three hours passed throughout the battle. Together with four others, all three terrorists were also put to death. Although it occurred shortly after a mosque attack in Peshawar on January 30, it was the first such attack in Karachi in a period of years.
Gladiators were delayed in returning to their hotel because they were practising at the National Stadium when the incident occurred. But, the Board insisted that it was still confident in the teams’ security.
The PCB’s Najam Sethi announced in a statement that “the HBL PSL 8 would continue as scheduled after it has been established and confirmed that Friday’s incident was an isolated one and had nothing to do with cricket.” The local and international security professionals who have given reassurance and comfort that the event may happen because there was no threat to cricket have been working closely with all stakeholders. The PCB takes seriously its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the HBL PSL 8. The teams and officials have received Presidential-level security to make sure no detail is overlooked. The visiting teams and officials have greatly applauded and appreciated the unusual arrangements, which are comparable to those made for international matches.
“The PCB remains committed to ensuring total safety and security for all the participants and, as always, will continue to work closely with the security experts and law enforcing agencies to ensure the players and officials are at ease and well cared for so that they can enjoy their stay in Pakistan and continue to amuse the fans and followers with their cricketing prowess and talent,” says the PCB.
In recent years, more teams have visited Pakistan for complete tours. Australia, England, and New Zealand successfully visited the nation over the last year after a hiatus of almost 20 years. As a result, every Full Member has visited Pakistan during the past four years save from India, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe.
Other than when the second half of the 2020–21 season was played in the UAE because to the Covid–19 pandemic, the nation has also hosted whole PSL seasons without issue. After the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan squad in 2009 ended international cricket in the nation, Pakistan’s cricket team spent nearly a decade playing their home matches in the UAE.
