Najam Sethi says Lahore suicide bomb attack threatens PSL final: ‘People will be more wary and scared’

Security officials inspect the scene of a suicide bomb attack that targeted a protest by pharmacists outside the Punjab provincial assembly in Lahore, Pakistan, February 13, 2017. At least 10 people wShow more

ISLAMABAD // Pakistan fans fear foreign players will avoid competing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore after a suicide bomber killed 13 people there on Monday.

The five-team PSL began last week in the UAE, and the final on March 5 is set for Lahore.

The Pakistan Cricket Board wanted to prove how safe Lahore is since a terrorist attack in 2009 against the Sri Lanka team put off all major teams touring the country, and last week it guaranteed “foolproof security” for the PSL finalists.

But a bomber targeting police escorting a rally by pharmacists likely ruined those hopes. “I wanted the whole PSL in Pakistan, not only just the final,” cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan said in Lahore on Tuesday.

“But the problem is that when terrorism happens, it gets highlighted more, and foreigners get scared.”

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Before the bombing, PSL chairman Najam Sethi was confident a large number of foreign players would appear in the final.

“Obviously, people will be more wary and scared. They were already and now will be more,” Sethi said late on Monday. “Now I will have to start all over again. I cannot say that we will be successful or not because [the players] have families, they will have their associations which will guide them.”

Sethi said he now wants to poll the Pakistan public, and let them decide whether they want to see the final in Lahore – most likely without foreign players – or Dubai again probably with overseas players.

Sethi said he still wanted Lahore to host the final, with or without foreign players.

“I want cricket lovers to tell me what do they want? Whatever they want, we will do,” Sethi said.

Last month, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association warned foreign players not to travel to Pakistan. The PSL resumes after a three-day break today when Islamabad United, fourth in the table, take on second-placed Quetta Gladiators at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

* Associated Press

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