PCB decides to host PSL final in Lahore

Board may hold players’ draft if foreign players are unwilling to take part

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) yesterday decided to go ahead with its plan of conducting the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore despite a spate of terrorist attacks in the country.

The decision was announced by the PSL Chairman, Najam Sethi in Dubai after a meeting with the franchise owners.

A PCB statement stated the team owners reinforced their solidarity and conviction with the decision of taking the final to Lahore.

“It has been heart-warming to see the dedication of all the owners to the cause of taking cricket back home and there is a realisation that this final will be the first step in opening the gates to international teams starting to make the journey again. We are all committed to this mission and wish to have a thoroughly entertaining final where it should happen — in Lahore,” Sethi said after the meeting.

The franchise owners will now talk to their foreign signings to find out if they are willing to travel to Lahore for the final if their teams qualify for it. In case none of the foreign players presently in the PSL want to travel to Lahore, the PCB will hold another players’ draft on February 25 with a back up list of players to give franchises the chance to reinforce their teams.

According to Sethi, the backup list includes many of those players who have shown consent to play in Lahore but the list is short on quality and big names.