Spectators will be allowed to attend matches in Pakistan this month for the first time in the coronavirus pandemic.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Thursday it has received permission from the government to allow 20 per cent attendance at Pakistan Super League games.
“The decision means around 7,500 ticketed spectators will be allowed access inside the National Stadium [in Karachi] per match day, while around 5,500 will be able to attend each match day at the Gaddafi Stadium [in Lahore],” the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
The sixth edition of PSL begins on February 20 with Karachi hosting the first 20 games before the Twenty20 competition moves to Lahore, which hosts the remaining 14 matches, including the final on March 22.
Last March, when the pandemic was shutting down global sports, four PSL matches were held in closed stadiums and the playoffs in Lahore postponed to November in an empty National Stadium in Karachi.
“These are baby steps and, considering that most sport events are being played in empty stadiums, this is a positive achievement,” PCB chairman Ehsan Mani said.
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PSL 2020 team of the tournament
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1. Babar Azam (Karachi Kings, 473 runs, strike rate 124.14) - Man of the match in the first qualifier and the final, and the leading run-scorer in the competition by 148, he just about scrapes into our team of the tournament. AFP -
2. Chris Lynn (Lahore Qalandars, 284 runs, strike rate 179.74) - How crucial was his unavailability for the playoffs? The Australian’s brutal hitting brought Lahore to life – while his replacement Tamim Iqbal struggled in the final. AFP -
3. Shan Masood (Multan Sultans, 283 runs, strike rate 128.05) - What a pity that Multan ended this season with nothing. They were the outstanding side in the group, and lost the first qualifier via a super over. They were brilliantly led by Masood. AFP -
4. Mohammed Hafeez (Lahore Qalandars, 312 runs, strike rate 125.30) - The 40-year-old batsman is getting better with age, and his excellence powered Lahore’s run to the final. His 74 not out in the eliminator match was sparkling. AFP -
5. Ben Dunk (Lahore Qalandars, 300 runs, strike rate 167.59) - Few players coloured the 2020 PSL quite so brightly as the Australian wicketkeeper, whether it be by his big hitting, his bubble gum blowing, or his happiness to stay on amid the Covid uncertainty. AFP -
6. Shadab Khan (Islamabad United, 263 runs, strike rate 159.39, 8 wickets, 8.24 economy rate) - Two-time champions Islamabad might have had a rare off year, as they finished last, but their young captain could scarcely have done more. Few players in the competition had a greater impact than he did. AFP -
7. Imad Wasim (Karachi Kings, 7 wickets, 7.06 economy rate) - The captain of the winning team in the final, and he hit the winning runs, too. The left-armer’s thriftiest with the ball was crucial to Karachi's maiden PSL title win. AFP -
8. Sohail Tanvir (Multan Sultans, 14 wickets, 7.54 economy rate) - It is 12 years now since Tanvir announced himself as hot T20 property by lighting up the first IPL, but he is still churning out excellence consistently. This time, it was in the colours of Multan. AFP -
9. Shaheen Afridi (Lahore Qalandars, 17 wickets, 7.11 economy rate) - The outstanding bowler in the competition, and surely its most impressive figure after Babar Azam. Their confrontation in the final felt like the immovable object vs the irresistible force. AFP -
10. Imran Tahir (Multan Sultans, 14 wickets, 7.54 economy rate) - Between helping Multan top the table and playing the playoffs, he had played at the CPL, and a bit part role in the IPL. It might have contributed to his form cooling at just the wrong time. AFP -
11. Waqas Maqsood (Karachi Kings, 6 wickets, 5.25 economy rate) - It may seem like an indulgence selecting a player who featured in just three matches in the tournament. But the left-armer went at less than a run a ball in that time, and played a key role in the final. AFP
