LAHORE: Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has requested foreign players to visit Lahore for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final and lauded the decision of holding the final in Pakistan.

Talking to media here on Wednesday, Shoaib said, “PSL is a Pakistani brand and I am happy that its final is going to be held in Lahore. I request all foreigner cricketers that they should not hesitate to come to Lahore if their teams qualify for the final.”

The PCB has decided to host the final here on March 5 with or without foreign cri­c­keters. The Board is expecting thousands to spectators at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The stadium will give a new look at its College End which has recently been renovated. Work on College End started in 2007 during Dr Nasim Ashraf’s tenure but could not be completed due of several issues.

Shoaib said the PSL was a successful story and the incident of alleged spot-fixing involving two cricketers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif would not defame it.

“No one can question the credibility of PSL just because of two cricketers,” he maintained.

The former speedster further said Sharjeel and Khalid should in fact be thankful to the PCB as it had saved them from going to jail in Dubai for alleged spot-fixing by sending them back to Pakistan.

He suggested the PCB that it should avoid going to court as it would open up a Pandora’s box of past activities.

Shoaib, who is known as Rawalpindi Express, said T20 cricket was being played in abundance which was damaging Test cricket.

He said the PCB should give exemplary send-off to all senior cricketers like Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi.

About the retirement of Misbah, Shoaib said the Test captain was in a better position to take any decision about his future.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017