PSL franchise owners reluctant to host final in Lahore

Team owners will meet Najam Sethi on Monday to decide the venue

DUBAI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s efforts to bring international cricket back to the country suffered a blow after two franchise owners expressed concerns over holding the final of the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Lahore.

PSL chairman has insisted that the league’s final fixture will be held in Pakistan. However, following a wave of terror across the country this week, franchise owners are reluctant to host the final in the Punjab capital.

Team owners will meet Sethi on Monday to decide the venue for the final, The Express Tribune has learnt.



“A meeting will be held on Monday to decide if the final will be held in Lahore or somewhere else,” a source privy to the matter told The Express Tribune. “Franchise owners will voice their concerns in the meeting.”

“It is not a good idea to hold the final in Lahore, especially after the terror attacks last week,” one of the franchise owners told this scribe. “God forbid if even there is one death during the match or a blast near the venue…not only Pakistan cricket will suffer, it can also put the future of PSL in danger.”



Another owner said Pakistanis should wait for one more year to welcome PSL back home. “It is a huge risk in taking these players back to Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, it is also believed that some international players may not get the NOC from their respective boards to play the fixture in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2017.