Over 25,000 Pakistanis thronged the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Sunday to watch the Pakistan Super League in defiance of terror threat that has kept the international cricket away from the country for eight years.
Pakistan has been fighting terrorism since 9/11 terror attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas and a low-intensity insurgency in Balochistan.
So, it was a cheerful news that teams representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan – Peshawar Zalmi and Quettta Gladiators – made it to the final.
The League drafts prominent international players and has been growing in stature since its inaugural event in United Arab Emirates.
This was the first time that cricket followers of the South Asian country – who treat the sport as a cultural activity – had an opportunity to watch the action on a home ground.
Peshawar Zalmi’s 58-run victory is not just a team’s sport triumph but a nation’s statement, emphasizing resilience of the nation. Only last month, Pakistan suffered from a spate of bombings in major cities of all four provinces with 130 lives lost.
“Terror will not dictate our way of life and the message is loud and clear,” Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, tweeted.
A cricket powerhouse, Pakistan has not hosted international matches since March 3, 2009, when visiting Sri Lankan Cricket team was attacked. The cricket final in itself does not mean an end to Pakistan’s challenges, which continued even as it hosted the cricket final. Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing remained close after Islamabad traced bombers of last month’s attacks to Afghanistan.
A view of Lahore, the venue of PSL Final. Photo: Roshan Pakistan via PCB
Since the 2009 attacks, Pakistan has played its home games in other venues, such as the United Arab Emirates.
But the victory is a big moral and psychological boost, as Pakistan in recent years has effectively fought terror groups and its economy has rebounded with a much brighter outlook for the years ahead.
Former West Indies captain who led the Peshawar Zalmi was all happy on clinching the trophy.
“I felt tonight I brought a lot of smiles in Lahore and Peshawar,” Sammy said. “I am glad I came to experience the atmosphere here.”
Last month’s attacks sparked fresh concerns over the country’s ability to provide security at a high-profile sporting event like Pakistan Super League Final and successful hosting of Sunday’s game may also have lasting effects for Pakistan’s cricket fixtures.
Several officials – including from the International Cricket Council – attended the game to see the security measures for themselves. Pakistani singers also performed to celebrate the return of cricket as a cultural event.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is said to be in talks with officials from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh about the possibility of touring Pakistan later in 2017.
According to an estimate PSL Finals in Lahore generated economic activity to the tune of US $ 10 million (More than Rs 1 billion) as thousands of Pakistanis from other parts of the country and even abroad arrived in Lahore to witness the biggest cricket event organized in Lahore in 8 yearss.
“The event has not only improved the image of Pakistan abroad but also created confidence among the business community,” says Naeem Mir, Secretary General of Anjuman Tajiran Pakistan, traders representative organization.
For people of Pakistani origin it also signaled a massive return of confidence.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan expressed his feelings on his twitter account:
“Really great to see the return of cricket being played in Pakistan. No losers today! #PslFinalLahore #PSL.”
