The cricket fever gripped the Punjab provincial capital as the six teams have arrived and ready for the next phase of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In the first match of the PSL’s Lahore leg, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi will battle it out on the field at 7:30 pm. 

During the first leg in Karachi, 15 contests of the PSL were held at National Stadium while the last 19 matches of the season will be played in Lahore as PCB’s marquee event returns to the headquarters of Pakistan cricket after a two-year gap.

With all the teams now having played five matches each, defending champions Multan Sultans are on top of the table with 10 points, followed by Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars (six points each), Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi (four points each) and Karachi Kings (winless).

All six teams remain in contention of securing the top-four play-off slots. The 2020 champions Karachi Kings, who lost all their five matches at their home ground, are still in the hunt and can still claw their way back into the competition if they undergo a change of fortunes in Lahore.

Lahore’s opener Fakhar Zaman meanwhile is presently at the top of the run-getters list with 356 runs at 71.20 and a strike-rate of 173.65. Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan who has been in red-hot form with both bat and ball, leads the bowlers list with 14 wickets from five games at 8.57 (economy rate 6.00).

Security arrangements

The authorities have established a control room to monitor the PSL-7 matches. Lahore’s authorities, civil and police, said the control room will work 24/7 under the supervision of Additionally Secretary Home (Internal Security).

https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/1466779513837207556 

The control room is linked with the Safe City Authority cameras. And officers will perform live-monitoring of the teams.

https://twitter.com/ctplahore/status/1491394971702034432 

Senior officers and officials of different units of Lahore Police including SPs, SDPOs, SHOs, Dolphin Squad, Police Response Unit and Elite Force will be performing security, patrolling and traffic management duties during the matches to ensure foolproof security of the event along with the smooth flow of traffic.

https://twitter.com/MultanSultans/status/1491429008965513221 

As per the security plan instructions by DIG Operations Dr Abid Khan, 11 SPs, 41 DSPs and 103 inspectors have been deployed.

Moreover, six intelligence teams will perform their duty amid the PSL matches as well.

Lahore Traffic Police vowed to ensure smooth traffic flow amid the PSL7 matches and issued the traffic plan as well but lahorities and visitors must prepare themselves to face the traffic jams.

On Wednesday, a high-level review meeting for PSL matches, arrangements was held under the chairpersonship of Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Usman at Qaddafi stadium. 

DC Lahore Omar Sher Chatha gave a detailed briefing to the Commissioner Lahore on all the arrangements. 

Commissioner Lahore said that there must be no compromise on security and cleanliness of parking sites. Rain is forecast for the next two days. 

He said that there should be no dark areas around the stadium and on the routes as well. 

An alternative traffic plan for the convenience of citizens and cricket fans should be advertised at all levels by teams would be given zero traffic on routes.

Commissioner Lahore was briefed about control rooms that 12 special teams have been deployed on the emergency response plan. In meeting, Protocol, WASA, LWMC, MCL, Rescue 1122, PHA, Police, Traffic Police, health and security agencies participated.

 

Reporters Hafiz Ali and Rana Azir Ali