Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had signed off on letting fans attend all three Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoff matches.
In a social media post on X, Naqvi said, “Just had a meeting with PM Shehbaz, and I am pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well.”
“However, this comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts,” Naqvi added.
He said that PM Shehbaz had also conveyed his best wishes to all four teams competing in the playoffs.
“Looking forward to some exciting and entertaining cricket ahead,” Naqvi said.
Three playoff matches are scheduled to be held this week, before the final on Sunday. On Tuesday, Islamabad United will face Peshawar Zalmi in Karachi, while Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans will meet in Lahore on Wednesday.
The loser of the first match will then face off against the winner of the second in Lahore on Friday.
The decision comes two days after Naqvi announced that PM Shehbaz had allowed spectators in the stadiums during the PSL final following his request. The final match is scheduled for May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Matches for this year’s tournament were initially scheduled to be held across six venues – Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, and Faisalabad.
However, prior to the commencement of the tournament, it was announced that it would go ahead sans spectators while matches would be held only in Karachi and Lahore in line with the government’s austerity drive, which was launched in the wake of the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel’s war on Iran.