Sports news
#PSL #Hundreds #stuck #long #lines #ticket #snag #slows #return #spectators">PSL 2026: Hundreds stuck in long lines as ticket snag slows return of spectators Fans waited a month to watch Pakistan Super League games in person after the T20 tournament was impacted by the Iran war. They waited a few more hours on Tuesday because of a ticketing problem.
A day after prime minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the return of fans to stadiums for the remaining four games of the country’s premier cricket tournament, ticket distribution hit a snag.
“Printing of tickets was done in Lahore and it was supposed to come to Karachi through cargo at 1 p.m., but the flight got canceled,” league CEO Salman Naseer told reporters.
So, hundreds of fans waited in line for several hours ahead of the first Playoff match — between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi in the southern port city of Karachi — as tickets eventually arrived behind schedule.
“We received lots of complaints, but the problem was that we got very short time,” Naseer said. “Prior to this only the final was announced (for fans) and our whole focus was on Lahore.
“Passion of fans is there. My only fear is that spectators will get the tickets, but they might not able to watch the complete game.”
Tickets went on sale four hours before the qualifier started and around 5,000 spectators were inside the National Bank Stadium when Islamabad captain Shadab Khan won the toss and elected to field against Peshawar, led by Babar Azam.
“I came here to support Peshawar Zalmi, especially Babar bhai (brother),” said Jawad Ahmed as he waited in a long queue to get his ticket. “Had we got more matches in Karachi, we could have got more opportunities to see players in action. Now they have allowed one game, but you can see our excitement. The rush is in front of you.”
And Babar didn’t disappoint Peshawar fans. He hit an aggressive 103 off 59 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes, in his team’s total of 221 for seven. It was Babar’s second century this season.
Pakistan’s biggest sports spectacle had started behind closed doors with fans asked to stay home because of soaring fuel prices due to the Iran war.
Permission for spectators at all four playoff games came just 24 hours before the qualifier between Peshawar and Islamabad started.
Published on Apr 28, 2026
Fans waited a month to watch Pakistan Super League games in person after the T20…
Sports news
#Fans #allowed #attend #Playoff #matches #Pakistan #Super #League">Fans to be allowed to attend Playoff matches of Pakistan Super League
Fans will be allowed to attend the remaining games of the Pakistan Super League after prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved spectators for three Playoffs matches.
It comes two days after Sharif approved a request from franchise owners to allow fans for the PSL’s May 3 final in Lahore.
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also interior minister in the government, announced the decision on social media after his meeting with Sharif in Islamabad.
He wrote on X that Sharif wanted the fans to “use public transport or minimize fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts.”
Pakistan’s biggest sports spectacle of the year started behind closed doors late last month with fans asked to stay home because of soaring fuel prices related to the Iran war.
Pakistan’s government had urged people to restrict travel and to work from home and Naqvi had said it wouldn’t be right to have 30,000 fans attending cricket matches every day while the government is asking the public to stay home.
The PCB also reduced the number of PSL venues from six to two as part of austerity measures, but barred spectators from PSL games at Lahore and Karachi.
Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, will take on three-time champion Islamabad United in the qualifier in Karachi on Tuesday with the winner advancing to the final.
The loser faces the winner of Wednesday’s eliminator between first-timer Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans on May 1 for the second spot in the finale, with all three of those matches in Lahore.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
Fans will be allowed to attend the remaining games of the Pakistan Super League after prime minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved spectators for three Playoffs matches.
It comes two days after Sharif approved a request from franchise owners to allow fans for the PSL’s May 3 final in Lahore.
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also interior minister in the government, announced the decision on social media after his meeting with Sharif in Islamabad.
He wrote on X that Sharif wanted the fans to “use public transport or minimize fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts.”
Pakistan’s biggest sports spectacle of the year started behind closed doors late last month with fans asked to stay home because of soaring fuel prices related to the Iran war.
Pakistan’s government had urged people to restrict travel and to work from home and Naqvi had said it wouldn’t be right to have 30,000 fans attending cricket matches every day while the government is asking the public to stay home.
The PCB also reduced the number of PSL venues from six to two as part of austerity measures, but barred spectators from PSL games at Lahore and Karachi.
Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, will take on three-time champion Islamabad United in the qualifier in Karachi on Tuesday with the winner advancing to the final.
The loser faces the winner of Wednesday’s eliminator between first-timer Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans on May 1 for the second spot in the finale, with all three of those matches in Lahore.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
Fans will be allowed to attend the remaining games of the Pakistan Super League after…