The Pakistan Super League enters its final stretch on Wednesday with a qualifier between title holders Lahore Qalandars and an in-form Multan Sultans. However, the political situation in the country has put a question mark over the four remaining games of the T20 tournament.
Former prime minister Imran Khan defied attempts to arrest him and remained in his house in Lahore as thousands of his supporters clashed with police.
Supporters of Mr Khan threw bricks at police, who used clubs and teargas for a second day on Wednesday as officers tried to arrest him for failing to appear in court on various charges.
Violence was also reported between Mr Khan's supporters and police in Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other parts of Pakistan.
The situation escalated this week, coinciding with the final leg of the PSL that is being held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Will the PSL playoffs go ahead as scheduled?
On Wednesday, the Pakistan Super League announced that the qualifier will held in Lahore as per schedule. However, reports from Pakistan state that the situation is tense and evolving constantly.
On Tuesday evening, teams cancelled their practice session in Lahore. The PSL and franchises are monitoring the situation and are expected to remain flexible as the situation unfolds.
What happens next?
In case the situation in Lahore is deemed not conducive for the playoffs, Karachi could get to host the remaining games. This despite Karachi having endured a major terror attack last month, which led to uncertainty over the league before cricket chief and veteran administrator Najam Sethi ensured the tournament remains on track.
PSL 2023 remaining fixtures
Wednesday, March 15
Qualifier 1: Lahore Qalandars v Multan Sultans, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (6pm UAE time)
Thursday, March 16
Eliminator: Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore (6pm)
Friday, March 17
Qualifier 2: Loser of Qualifier 1 v Winner of Eliminator, Lahore (6pm)
Saturday, March 18
Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (6pm)
All matches will be shown on Starzplay in the UAE.
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Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
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Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
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Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
