Foreign security experts to visit Karachi for PSL matches

KARACHI: Cricket Australia and Bangladesh security experts will land in Karachi to witness the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches which will be held at the National Stadium from March 9 to 17.

“Yes, security experts of Cricket Australia and Bangladesh will come here to witness how we are working,” PCB chairman Ehsan Mani told reporters here on Thursday.

He was quick to add that International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Dave Richardson would also visit Pakistan.

Mani said he expected that holding of the PSL matches in Karachi would change the perception of international community about Pakistan.

Pakistan turned into a no-go zone when Sri Lankan cricket team bus was attacked in March 2009. After that the country suffered a lot as sports teams refused to tour Pakistan.

However, the situation is now much better and the country is getting confidence of international community back.

Zimbabwe and West Indies cricket teams have already toured Pakistan.

A leg of the ACC Asia Cup for the emerging teams was also held here at the National Stadium recently.

To a query, Mani said that the ICC president was not coming because of sickness of a member of his family.

When asked about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Karachi, Mani said he did not know anything about it.

Mani lauded the Sindh government for making arrangements for the three matches that were added to the Karachi leg of the league only a few days ago. “We are very thankful to Karachi administration, Sindh government and the Chief Minister who on short notice made good arrangements for the three matches. I firmly believe that the matches will be held successfully,” Mani said.

Initially Karachi was to host five matches out of eight, but because of political tension between Pakistan and India the Lahore matches were also shifted to Karachi.

Defending champions Islamabad United and Karachi Kings are scheduled to hold training sessions here at National Stadium’s High Performance Centre.