PSL final: Cricket mania grips Lahore

People put fear of terrorism behind to support their favourite teams


Our Correspondent March 05, 2017
People put fear of terrorism behind to support their favourite teams. PHOTO COURTESY: PSL

LAHORE: Putting the recent wave of terrorism behind, Lahore has sprung to life as excitement and festivities return to the provincial capital ahead of today’s Pakistan Super League cricket final at Gaddafi Stadium.

The city is wearing a festive look with colourful lights put up along roads and metropolis living up to its name of City of Gardens with plants and flowers adorning both sides of most main roads.

Gaddafi Stadium has been decorated by different companies sponsoring the event. Even SSG paratroopers got into the act and jumped out of airplanes over Gaddafi Stadium for aerial acrobatics.

PSL final: Let the party begin

Different groups planning to watch the match at the stadium or on big screens booked dhol walas, who have been largely ignored in this age of MP3 players. Taking advantage of the situation, the rates of these drum beaters have soared to new heights.

Though the government has banned private screenings of the match, Lahori’ites are defying all such orders by renting farmhouses or rooftops for the much-anticipated event.

An office bearer of a students’ organisation circulated a message to his friends, inviting them to watch the big game at his home in Township.  He also promised to serve ‘refreshments’ during the match.

Similar arrangements were made throughout the metropolis by cricket lovers who could not arrange tickets for whatever reason. A similar arrangement was made at the Punjab University Club for faculty members. Lahore Press Club also put up a screen for the families of members.

Foreseeing an influx of customers before and after the final, restaurants have also made arrangements to serve special dishes for the cricket enthusiasts.  Catering services are also doing booming business as people are ordering cauldrons filled with food by the dozen.

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Merchandise is another hot commodity as caps, accessories and vehicle decorations with logos of different PSL teams are selling like hotcakes. Even face painters are making a handsome buck. Careem taxi service also introduced a special pick and drop offer for the PSL crowd. It promises discounted rates of Rs250 per ride from any point of the city to the allotted parking spaces.

Gearing up

As the final is the biggest match in the country in recent history, government and law enforcing agencies have made ‘unprecedented’ security arrangements to restore the confidence of the international community.

In fact, five layers of security have been established as Gaddafi Stadium and adjoining areas have been cordoned off from the rest of the city by placing containers, barriers and barbed wire on approach roads and streets.

Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has installed high-resolution closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the venue and main roads for round-the-clock surveillance and monitoring. Law enforcing agencies have also made arrangements for aerial monitoring of the city, especially Gaddafi Stadium.

All spectators have to pass through walkthrough gates, medical detectors and will be physically frisked. Officials of the Police Response Unit (PRU), Dolphin Squad and Elite Force will keep patrolling, while the venue and surrounding areas will be screened by the Bomb Disposal Squad and sniffer dogs before the match.

Police officials revealed over 15,000 police, rangers and army personnel have been deployed.

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Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Mushtaq Sukhera held a ‘darbar’ at Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines. He briefed senior officers about the security strategy and ordered them to reach their duty spots on time.

Rescue 1122 has, meanwhile, deployed 300 emergency medical technicians, fire and disaster rescuers, 21 ambulances, 12 fire vehicles and four rescue vans. There will also be 30 mobile rescue posts in and around Gaddafi Stadium.

Numbers involved in preps

• 15,000 police, Rangers and army personnel deployed

• 300 medical technicians, firefighters and disaster rescuers

• Rs250 is Careem’s special fare for rides to the stadium

• 30 mobile rescue posts set up at Gaddafi Stadium

• 12 fire vehicles, 4 rescue vans stationed

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2017.

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