Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani is hopeful that all the matches of next edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) could be held in Pakistan and not around UAE.
“The biggest reward should be given to the people of Karachi, the way you people have supported and embraced PSL 4 here in your city. The love and support were extraordinary,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Mani, as saying during the closing ceremony of the PSL on Sunday.
“Finally, I would like to say that all overseas players, officials, and technical support teams, you have seen yourself the passion and love for cricket in Pakistan. Next year we look forward to welcoming you back with all the PSL matches in Pakistan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who attended the PSL final, hoped Karachi would continue to play a significant role in the return of international cricket to Pakistan.
“Last year, we hosted the final and this year we staged eight matches here. I salute the fans of Karachi who despite all problems helped us stage the final. The government of Sindh will strive for the return of international cricket in Pakistan and that too will start from Karachi,” Shah said.
{{/usCountry}}“Last year, we hosted the final and this year we staged eight matches here. I salute the fans of Karachi who despite all problems helped us stage the final. The government of Sindh will strive for the return of international cricket in Pakistan and that too will start from Karachi,” Shah said.
{{/usCountry}}PSL commenced in the UAE, where 26 games played before the matches shifted to Pakistan. Earlier, three of eight matches were scheduled to be played in Lahore followed by five in Karachi. But all the matches moved to Karachi due to logistical concerns.
Pakistan completed ten years since the country became a no-go zone for international cricket teams after the armed attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009. The PCB was forced to make the UAE their home away from home.
A tour of three T20 International series by an ICC-supported World XI in September 2017, in which a number of players from around the world took part, got considerable success. The move helped PCB to convince teams that Pakistan can host international matches again.