Unprecedented security for PSL finals at Lahore,Kudos to PCB

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Quote

Over the last fortnight the security presence in Lahore has increased significantly, after a spate of bombings rocked Pakistan's second largest city and other parts of the country too in February. The Gaddafi Stadium, situated in the Nishtar sports complex, has been off limits to the general public over the last three days. On March 5, however, it won't be.

An estimated 18,000 tickets have already been sold for the PSL final between Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators - a full house is expected on Sunday - as the PCB attempts to bring high-profile cricket involving some overseas players back to Pakistan.

Though the PSL had maintained from the start that this year's final would be held in Pakistan, the bombings over the last month had caused uncertainty. At least 13 people were killed and more than 80 injured in a blast near the Punjab assembly in Lahore on February 13, while more than 80 died after a bomb went off at a shrine in the Sindh province on February 16.

To safeguard the PSL final, over 10,000 security personnel have been deployed, including Punjab police, and Pakistan's paramilitary force - Rangers. The Nishtar Park compound has been protected by huge metal gates, and spectators will be able to enter the Gaddafi Stadium only after three layers of security checks, some of which take place at a two-kilometre protective perimeter around the venue. The first layer of checks - after the five areas marked for parking - can be passed only after verification of the person's original national identity card.

The entire complex has also been set up with a new range of scanners, high definition facial-recognition CCTV systems, and police control centres. No public vehicle is allowed within a kilometre of the sports complex, and entry will be on foot from Liberty roundabout and Ferozpur Road, through extensive security layers. Surrounding roads connected to the complex will be closed for traffic and alternative routes have been given by the Lahore traffic police.

A makeshift hospital facility has also been built within the hockey stadium adjacent to the cricket stadium in case of emergency. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 6pm and the match for 8pm.

"The entire city will function normally, and there will be less inconvenience, but for the sake of the people's safety we have to have a tight security programme in place," Rana Sana Ullah, the Punjab law minister, told reporters at Gaddafi Stadium.

A rehearsal of the security drills was also carried out between the airport and the teams' hotel on Mall Road, and from the hotel to the stadium, using the PCB's bullet-proof buses. All these arrangements are being presented to foreign security advisors in a bid to inform other cricket-playing countries about the measures put in place by the PCB.

The uncertainty over which foreign players will turn out for Peshawar and Quetta in the final is almost at an end, with the teams being asked to make up the numbers by choosing for a pool of foreign cricketers who are willing to play in Lahore. Quetta's Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Tymal Mills and Rilee Rossouw have already pulled out of the final, but Peshawar's four overseas players are likely to travel to Lahore. It is believed that the foreign players will be offered separate payments - some as high as $50,000 - for playing in Pakistan.

The origin of this present phase of security concerns over playing international cricket in Pakistan dates back to the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March 2009. Pakistan have been forced to play their home matches at offshore venues - primarily in the UAE - ever since.

Zimbabwe agreed to tour Pakistan for a limited-overs series in 2015, but even with extensive security measures in place for that visit there was a bomb attack during the second ODI. The blast occurred at the first checkpoint about 800 metres away from the stadium, killing two people, including a sub-inspector. Zimbabwe stayed on to finish the series, but the tour did not lead to a change in perception of the security conditions in Pakistan.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-super-league-2016-17/content/story/1085201.html

 

 

I doubt there has been anything anywhere that has matched this.Well done!!!

[kira]

Idiots, a freaking cricket match is more important than a pakistani life, what a pathetic country 

[rkt.india]

Fidayeens dont care about security. They are prepared to die. No security can do much in a fidayeen attack.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

2 minutes ago, kira said:

Idiots, a freaking cricket match is more important than a pakistani life, what a pathetic country 

 

Stupid remark.If thats the case then its true for every country everywhere.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

1 minute ago, rkt.india said:

Fidayeens dont care about security. They are prepared to die. No security can do much in a fidayeen attack.

 

Really?Fidayeens will only attack if they think they will be able to make some impact.Here they will be stopped miles from the stadium.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

I must congratulate my Pakistani posters here

 

@Bilal

@Asim

@Autonomous

@Iconoclast

@Faruk_omor

[Asim]

7 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

I must congratulate my Pakistani posters here

 

@Bilal

@Asim

@Autonomous

@Iconoclast

@Faruk_omor

Thanks Bro... no doubt quite extra ordinary arrangements, Hopefully everything goes well and it proves helpful to bring cricket back...

(Glad Peshawar foreign players are all coming for Final...)

[rkt.india]

10 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

Really?Fidayeens will only attack if they think they will be able to make some impact.Here they will be stopped miles from the stadium.

any attack will have an impact even if it is miles away from the stadium.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

1 minute ago, Asim said:

Thanks Bro... no doubt quite extra ordinary arrangements, Hopefully everything goes well and it proves helpful to bring cricket back...

(Glad Peshawar foreign players are all coming for Final...)

 

Inshallah all will be fine.As a cricket fan i hope that.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

1 minute ago, rkt.india said:

any attack will have an impact even if it is miles away from the stadium.

Are you that much or is this for argument's sake?

[kira]

15 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

Stupid remark.If thats the case then its true for every country everywhere.

Stupid reply as always, they just had 3-4 blasts in lahore in last 2 weeks, you think organizing a freaking cricket match is a good idea, the lives of security guards don't matter to you, is the cricket match more important that people who lost their lives, idiotic

[rkt.india]

2 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

Are you that much or is this for argument's sake?

tell me the purpose of this security and this game? to bring cricket back in Pak? Will cricket come back to Pak if there is a fidayeen attack a few miles of away from the cricket stadium?

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Just now, kira said:

Stupid reply as always, they just had 3-4 blasts in lahore in last 2 weeks, you think organizing a freaking cricket match is a good idea, the lives of security guards don't matter to you, is the cricket match more important that people who lost their lives, idiotic

 

How many attacks in France?Have they stopped the French Open?

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Just now, rkt.india said:

tell me the purpose of this security and this game? to bring cricket back in Pak? Will cricket come back to Pak if there is a fidayeen attack a few miles of away from the cricket stadium?

 

The players have to be safe.The security cordon shouldnot be breached.Thats the basic idea.Thats how the security details are explained to the players.

[kira]

1 minute ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

How many attacks in France?Have they stopped the French Open?

Really? did you seriously just compare pakistan to france? Really? In which dimension are those 2 situations comparable? Pak is infested by many terrorist organizations, it is the home land of taliban, these terrorists have a strong base inside their country, to give them an easy target like a cricket match is absolutely 100% foolish

[Malcolm Merlyn]

4 minutes ago, kira said:

Really? did you seriously just compare pakistan to france? Really? In which dimension are those 2 situations comparable? Pak is infested by many terrorist organizations, it is the home land of taliban, these terrorists have a strong base inside their country, to give them an easy target like a cricket match is absolutely 100% foolish

 

As long as the players and events are safe and the security cordon is intact its ok to hold the event.Terrorists attack when security is lax.

[Asim]

15 minutes ago, Viper said:

So other team players kp and many others going home

 

What will they do ? 

Yes, Quetta players left right after first play-off, coach Viv is coming though... Obv this was not an easy decision for any player... (Im not sure yet who will make the replacements)

Edited March 4, 2017 by Asim

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Yes, Quetta players left right after first play-off, coach Viv is coming though... Obv this was not an easy decision for any player... (Im not sure yet who will make the replacements)

 

Who all are coming?Are they already there?

[speedheat]

Congrats to the Pakistani fans and best of luck to.. hope things improves from here on

[Asim]

21 minutes ago, Malcolm Merlyn said:

 

Who all are coming?Are they already there?

Not arrived yet but according to Peshawar team officials, WI players will make it and Chris Jorden is waiting for ECB confirmation...