LAHORE, (MILLAT/APP): Provincial Sports Minister Punjab Jahangir
Khanzada has said that holding the PSL final in Lahore is a
confidence-building, morale-boosting and brave decision of the
government in the face of terror and will help restore
international cricket in the country.
In an interview with APP at his office here on Friday,he
said the PSL final in Pakistan is a solid message to the
terrorists that Pakistanis are a fearless nation, adding that
the nation is not awed by the acts of terror by the
extremists.
To a query,the Minister said Pakistan Super League (PSL-
2) final is not a mere cricket match but a step towards
national cause, adding that the day is not far when the whole
tournament will be played in Pakistan.
About the benefits of PSL,Khanzada said PSL is an
important platform which will unearth raw cricketing talent
and many young players between the age group 18 and 22 have
proved their mettle in PSL,adding these players could serve
Pakistan cricket for the next 10-15 years. He regretted the fact
that Pakistani cricketers were deprived of home-series for the
past 10 years.
“The international cricket would return to Pakistan
through the PSL platform”, he responded.
Regarding security, he said the Punjab government will
provide flawless security to the visiting foreign cricketers,
like the security cover provided to Zimbabwe cricket team in
2015. “We are capable of providing fool-proof security
to all teams,and last visit of Zimbabwe cricket
team strengthened our self-belief”.
To a query, he said the decision of the Quetta Gladiator
foreign player to stay away from the finals in Lahore was
their personal affair, saying, “Had they come,the Pakistanis
would have extended the best of their hospitality”.
Jahangir Khanzada expressed government’s resolve to hold
the PSL Final in Lahore on March 5 peacefully,besides
reassuring the people that last remnant of terrorism will
be exterminated from Pakistan.