KARACHI: For once, everything felt normal.

The stands were no more deserted as echoing chants replaced deafening silence.

While the National Bank Stadium has been home to HBL Pakistan Super League action for the last 20 days, it was only on Tuesday evening when cricket was well and truly back at the historic venue as Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United clashed in the Qualifier.

The colourful seats of the arena were finally occupied by real people, adding life to the Karachi breeze, that swept through the stadium gently.

But these enthusiastic lovers of the sport had hard-earned the privilege of attending the match almost 24 hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave the go-ahead to allow fan entry in the PSL playoffs following a ban due to the government’s fuel-saving measures taken in the wake of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Responding to the premier’s green light, arrangements had to be made hurriedly by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the circumstances had their effect on the fans’ experience of buying the tickets.

Many were left frustrated by the glitchy website of the courier company which was the responsibility to sell the tickets online.

Others toiled in queues outside the courier company’s two designated centres under the blazing sun since before afternoon.

At the box office was set up at the China Ground, a dusty parking space across the road from the National Bank Stadium.

Fans had started reaching the location as early as 10:00am. And to the frustration of many, who “had literally filed the whole ground” — as per one of the workers of the ticket vendor told Dawn — the sales, which started at 12:00 noon were stalled in an hour after “people started getting violent”.

The ticket sales at the China Ground resumed by 3:00pm again, but there were still issues of Computerised National Identity Card registrations while sole fans stood confused after not receiving their tickets despite having paid online.

They were reportedly promised a refund, but still had to buy physical tickets to be able to attend the match.

The complications, however, relented with time, especially after PSL chief executive officer Salman Naseer visited the China Ground.

“I understand there have been issues and that has been mainly due to the fact that we had to make arrangements [for entry of fans] on a very short notice,” he told reporters, adding that organisers were focused on preparing for Sunday’s final, for which fans were allowed two days earlier.

As the sun started coming down, the tiredness on the fans’ faces gradually turned into relief and eventually to delight as they flaunted their tickets while crossing the pedestrian bridge that lead to the National Bank Stadium’s Gate No. 12.

And not long after the match’s first ball was bowled, the stands were filled to capacity.

Now, it was the noise that turned deafening and there was a quiet realisation that the normal, after all, is so special.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026