LAHORE: The Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus was interrupted by terrorists when it reached the Liberty Chowk to enter into the nearby Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the Second Test against Pakistan.

After almost nine years of the horrible attack on Sri Lankans at the Liberty Chowk in 2009, the same roundabout has been turned into a central point for masses and electronic media due to which it’s abuzz with activities and jubilations ahead of the PSL final here on Sunday.

The unfortunate incident at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk damaged the country’s sports particularly the game of cricket to such an extent that international teams show reluctance in visiting any part of the country even to date. The PSL final was also planned in Lahore with the hope it will inspire the world to come and play sports in Pakistan.

On Sunday, while the TV channels’ DSNGs were not allowed to enter into the Nishtar Sports Complex, the media persons established their camps at the Liberty Chowk to perform their duties. On the other hand, spectators while waiting at the Liberty Chowk for their entrance into the stadium jubilantly interacted with the media.

The cricket crazy fans were upbeat about coming to the Gaddafi Stadium to watch the final. Their arrival started in the morning but they had to wait till 2:30pm when the administration opened the gates for their entry.

Slowly and gradually, all the enclosures were filled before the start of the closing ceremony at 6.00pm which was held before the start of the match.

It is not for the first time that the Lahorites thronged the stadium for a cricket match, with a National Twenty20 clash between Lahore Lions and Karachi Dolphins in 2010 receiving a record crowd. The entry for the match was free and there was no space for pedestrians to walk easily even half a kilometer away from the stadium.

“We are happy that the PSL final has been shifted to Lahore which will give us a great opportunity to watch it on our home soil,” a spectator Mohammad Ayub holding his match-ticket said at the Liberty Chowk.

Another spectator Zahid Iqbal along with his wife was also sitting at the Liberty Chowk waiting for the opening of entry at the stadium. “We have been waiting desperately to go to the stadium to watch the match and we are praying that next year all the matches of the PSL are held in different cities of the country,” said the jubilant cricket spectator.

Much as the Punjab government provided bus shuttle service many spectators reached the stadium on their own amid heavy security arrangements.

Inside the packed to the capacity Gaddafi Stadium, the crowd saw parachutists, traditional dancers of all the four provinces and singing artists perform at the closing ceremony held a couple of hours before the 8pm PSL final.

Firstly, the paratroopers carrying the flag of Lahore Qalandhars landed followed by Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and then the finalists in Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi with the national flag landing in the end.

Besides the closing ceremony, both the teams carried out their practice sessions ahead of the match. Earlier, both also took a round of the stadium to get a rapturous applause from the large turnout. The crowd gave a standing ovation to foreign cricketers who dared to come to Lahore setting aside all their security fears. Zalmi captain Darren Sammy signed autographs for his fans.

On the occasion, PSL chairman Najam Sethi congratulated all stakeholders and spectators on conduct of the PSL final in Lahore, stating the PSL and PCB worked round the clock to make the show successful. “Hopefully, it will be a successful event,” said Sethi, adding that “fans arrived in the stadium to see the final from every nook and corner of the country.”

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2017