PSL 8: Lahore, Rawalpindi matches to go ahead as scheduled

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight matches will be held in Lahore and Rawalpindi as per schedule, as the deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the interim Punjab government has finally ended.

Minister of Health from the interim government, Dr. Javed Akram, had confirmed to Express News on Saturday that the PSL matches will not be shifted from Lahore and Rawalpindi to Karachi.

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The PCB chairman on Sunday, shared the news on his Twitter account that matches will be held as per schedule.

''CM Punjab Mohsin Naqvi Saheb has been kind enough to agree to share cost of lighting routes during PSL matches in Lahore. HBL PSL8 matches in Lahore and Pindi shall continue as scheduled,'' tweeted Sethi.

Good news: CM Punjab Mohsin Naqvi Saheb has been kind enough to agree to share cost of lighting routes during PSL matches in Lahore. HBl PSL8 matches in Lahore and Pindi shall continue as scheduled.

— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 26, 2023

It must be noted that the interim Punjab government had initially demanded PKR500 million from PCB to conduct the matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi. The board has already paid PKR50 million to Punjab government for expenses on food.

The provincial government were then demanding the remaining PKR450 million for lighting and security purposes. In order to save these expenses, the board was considering shifting the Punjab-leg of PSL 8 to Karachi.

The interim Government of Punjab on Saturday evening decided to be flexible on lights, security and other expenses. They decided to borne fifty percent of the bill payment, which is PKR 250 million. While they asked PCB to borne the remaining PKR 250 million.

However, PCB was still not ready to pay any amount for security, lights, and other expenses handed over by the government.  

Najam Sethi then reached out to Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on Sunday, who assured him full support in holding matches in Punjab. PCB finally settled on contributing PKR100 million for the aforementioned expenses.

Thank you PCB Patron PM @CMShehbaz for facilitating settlement with Punjab Govt on HBL PSL8 security issue!

— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 26, 2023

Matches in Lahorebegan from February 26 with Lahore Qalandars taking on Peshawar Zalmi, while Rawalpindi will host the PSL 8 matches from March 1.