Sports

PSL2: Quetta Gladiators’ foreign players pull out of Lahore final

Decision comes after last-over thriller against Peshawar Zalmi on Tuesday

Afp/Sports Desk March 01, 2017

Quetta Gladiators’ foreign players Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, and Tymal Mills have all pulled out of the Pakistan Super League’s final in Lahore . PHOTO COURTESY: PCB

SHARJAH: Quetta Gladiators’ foreign players Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Rilee Rossouw and Tymal Mills have all pulled out of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) final in Lahore on March 5 due to security concerns.

The quartet announced the decision via their official Twitter accounts after Gladiators emerged victorious in the play-off match against Peshawar Zalmi by just one run in Sharjah.

https://twitter.com/KP24/status/836681618924404736

https://twitter.com/tmills15/status/836700869164941315

Guessing game about venue of PSL final ends

It's with a heavy heart I will not be coming to Lahore. I have a young family and for me a game of cricket is just not worth the risk 1/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) February 28, 2017

I'm sorry as I know how much it means to you all and hopefully in the future the safety will not be in doubt to come play there. 2/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) February 28, 2017

Thanks once again to @TeamQuetta and @thePSLt20 for having me. Such lovely people. Great tournament with so much talent. See u soon 👍👍 3/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) February 28, 2017

For those still unsure its with a sad heart that I must announce that i will not be taking part in the final.
— Rilee Rossouw (@Rileerr) March 1, 2017

The people and fans of @TeamQuetta are the most passionate and humble ive ever met. Thank you for my time here and all the support!!!
— Rilee Rossouw (@Rileerr) March 1, 2017

It's final. PSL final to be held in Lahore

On Tuesday, last year’s finalists pulled off a nerve-racking last-over win. Defending a 201-run target, Gladiators’ spinner Mohammad Nawaz took three wickets off the last three balls to send a packed 19,000 stadium into a frenzy.

Zalmi were cruising along nicely needing just 20 runs in the last three overs after Mohammad Hafeez knocked 77 and Dawid Malan smashed 56. Shahid Afridi, with four sixes and a boundary in a 13-ball 34, pushed Zalmi to the brink of victory but Gladiators kept their nerve to pull off a sensational win.

Gladiators were lifted to 200-7 by Ahmed Shehzad’s 38-ball 77 spiced with four sixes and seven boundaries while Kevin Pietersen made a rapid-fire 22-ball 40. They now fly to Lahore to play the final on Sunday.

PSL enters play-offs as uncertainty looms Lahore final

The second play-off will be between defending champions Islamabad United and Karachi Kings in Sharjah on Wednesday. The winner of that match will play Peshawar in Dubai on Friday to decide who meets Quetta in the final.

The final will be held under tight security after deadly blasts in Lahore.

The fate of the eagerly-awaited last match of the Twenty20 cricket league had been hanging in the balance since a string of deadly terrorist attacks raised security concerns in Pakistan.

However, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif cleared the air on Monday, saying that the PSL final would be played at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium at any cost. “Everybody has to work with determination, enthusiasm and devotion for making the final match successful,” he said while presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Cabinet Committee on Law and Order which he had convened to review the security situation in the wake of recent bombings in the metropolis.

PSL makes yet more history

The provincial government had also sought input from other provincial and federal security institutions before making the decision.

Shehbaz hoped that with people’s support the match would be made a resounding success. “No conspiracy of the enemy will be allowed to succeed,” he added. “We will live up to expectations of the masses. The nefarious designs of terrorists and their facilitators will be foiled.”

The chief minister said 100 per cent foolproof security would be ensured for the PSL final. He directed the cabinet committee to make best arrangements for the match and also review security and other measures on a daily basis while he himself would regularly review progress of all arrangements.

According to the provincial government, as many as 7,000 policemen, including 12 SPs, 35 DSPs and 84 SHOs will be deployed at Qaddafi Stadium for security.

Shehbaz said the decision to hold the PSL final in Lahore has been taken in the best interest of the country and its citizens. He appealed to the nation to support his administration’s efforts for the success of the match.

COMMENTS (27)

anas aitzaz | 7 years ago | Reply broke the heart. come on guys we do live in Pakistan its completely safe.. although just broke my heart and all of @queeta fans ..

Giri | 7 years ago | Reply Other than show of resolve by nation this will not attain anything for Cricket. It will not help international cricket return to Pakistan any time soon. In fact this drama has highlighted dangers to the world. I do not understand PCB strategies.

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Waseem Sarwar | 7 years ago | Reply @Bedagarakh: Don't hold your breath for that. PSL is making money, providing younger players to Pakistan national side and people in Pakistan and UAE love watching it so PSL is here to stay.

Qamber | 7 years ago | Reply Thank You for not supporting Pkaistan Cricket guys but ... Game Must Going On ...!

Dhanus Menon | 7 years ago | Reply @raheel. Pakistan nowadays can be compared to a war zone.

Feroz | 7 years ago | Reply Very sad to see politics creep into cricket. If Lahore was safe entire tournament should have been played there, not just the final. Next year entire tournament should be played in only one country.

Rahul | 7 years ago | Reply @salman: "Something better than your IPL." Hahaha please. You cannot even get the grade A international players to play in PSL, let alone them coming to Lahore. Most of the foreign players in PSL are either retired or rejects of their national sides. Don't even dream about comparing it with IPL which is leaps and bounds ahead of PSL.

Iqbal | 7 years ago | Reply @salman: Educated and brainwashed at a madrassa? Withdrawal of these foreign players explains the current situation of Pakistan. In the West everyone know where Pakistan is but nobody wants to go there. It used to be Siberia but now the position has been taken by Pakistan.

Rahul | 7 years ago | Reply @Tyggar: "During Delhi blasts in 2008 when English players were playing a series, they continued to play the series to show solidarity with India" They did the same thing after the Mumbai attack a couple of months later.

YJS | 7 years ago | Reply Respect to these players. Imagine if my life is in danger from suicide attacks and i am a VVVIP person so the only way i can do is to hire 500 people and they make a ring and i sit in between them. Whoever comes closer to me have to pass through those poor 500 police officers. This means if a suicide attempt happens then those poor police officers are the first target of the unfortunate incident. Keep myself safe and making life risky of 500 police officers is not good. There is same situation happening now. PCB, Najam Sethi and Punjab Government is not feeling for those 7000 police officers who making their life in risk. Please also think for these people. They have family as well.

aqeel | 7 years ago | Reply Sethi is a political appointment he only trying give impression that pak. Is safe and election time panama sharif will do more adds with our tax money we brought back intl cricket NOW TOTALLY BACK FIRED

Aamir Aqil | 7 years ago | Reply An eye opener for Najam Sethi , still there is time to shift final to Dubai , Mr.Sethi please dont make it a matter of your prestige. Life n propert of the Pakistanis is much important than your PSL. Have mercy on the citizens of Lahore.

salman | 7 years ago | Reply @SuperNeo: Something better than your IPL.

Desi | 7 years ago | Reply Without the foreign players, this league would be a normal local T20 league like Faysal Bank T20 League used to be.

Tyggar | 7 years ago | Reply During Delhi blasts in 2008 when English players were playing a series, they continued to play the series to show solidarity with India

Bedagarakh | 7 years ago | Reply I dont think there will be another PSL next year.

Saleem | 7 years ago | Reply Better to call it "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy"

Salman | 7 years ago | Reply Life is precious. Please don't play with it.

SuperNeo | 7 years ago | Reply What's PSL ???

Taimoor Ahmed | 7 years ago | Reply It's really embarrassing. I think Sharjah could be the best venue to stage the PSL final. it's such a stupid decision that makes key foreign players to pull out of the event. There's no excitement left anymore. Totally disappointed!!!

omer | 7 years ago | Reply absolute embarrassment

UmBro | 7 years ago | Reply PCB & Najam Sethi need to realize that people are interested in watching KP, Gayle, Pollard, Sanga, Sammy, basically the foreign players & NOT their Misbah, Ajmal & Akmals, it is going to be just another domestic local game now, he will ruin the PSL brand with his ego & stupid decision making. Why don't u just accept that the security situation is not safe at the moment

Dastan | 7 years ago | Reply Do we really need a final in lahore played among second string teams? Come on pcb/psl keep the final in dubai. Let conditions improve in pak before deciding to bring international/mega events back to Pakistan.

raheel | 7 years ago | Reply as if they are asked to play in war zone.. :( No problem, Its time to play in Lahore... With or Without foreign players...

Naseer | 7 years ago | Reply Sad but right decision by the players. Life is more presidiums than cricket.

MS | 7 years ago | Reply Thank you Imran Khan. Your message is heard loud and clear by your fellow countrymen. We would be very pleased if you accompany them too.

salman | 7 years ago | Reply Understandable. You guys will be missed. Hopefully no security risks in nearby future. Will love to see you all on Pakistani grounds than.

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