Without Babar, Peshawar Zalmi would not have had a team: Lahori Fans

Two matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 are being played today in Lahore and Multan. The first match is between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, while the second match will be between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans in Multan.

Fans had started arriving outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore by one o’clock, but their number was quite small. In this regard, some fans said that the number of people watching the match is less because it is not a holiday.

Another reason was that some people thought that the match is being held in Lahore but Lahore Qalandar is not playing, that’s why fans are coming less.

Most of the fans who came to watch the match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings were young people, most of whom appeared to be supporters of Peshawar Zalmi and all of them gave one reason and that reason was Babar Azam.

A young man even said that Babar Azam is in the team, that’s why there is a team. Without Babar, Peshawar Zalmi would not have had a team.

Some said that Babar Azam is the life of cricket and people love him so much, even if he doesn’t win the match, there is no problem.

Similarly, some fans were also supporters of Karachi Kings, especially Shoaib Malik. People said that since Karachi Kings lose most of the matches, they have to win this match to build their reputation.

All these things aside, but when we asked the fans about the rest of the players of the two teams and their performance, most of the people did not know who was playing in which team.

The entrances to the stadium were lined with walk-through gates, through which you would encounter either a face painter or those selling team flags and score cards.

Scorecards of fours and sixes were also being distributed free of charge by Karachi Kings. Interestingly, some people who were crazy about Peshawar Zalmi were also getting free scorecards given by Karachi Kings, which had Karachi Kings advertised on them.

A heavy contingent of police was also deployed at the gate of the stadium. Only VIPs, senior police officials or media persons could pass through this gate. A second gate was constructed for the fans watching the match and full police checking was going on there as well.

No person coming to watch the match could take any kind of food or drink inside the stadium.

Here some people even argued with the policemen to take the water inside but in the end they had to go inside after finishing the water bottle outside.

In this February 21, 2024 photo, Shoaib Malik of Karachi Kings celebrates after taking the wicket of Saeem Ayub during their PSL 9 match against Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore (AFP)

Outside these two gates, the Dolphin squad was also standing with their own bicycles.

A Dolphins official said that the bicycle squad numbering 24 is located around the stadium and is stationed at three different spots in an eight-by-eight formation.

As the weather in Lahore has warmed up and the sun was shining brightly, the media teams were also seated on the grass in front of the Gaddafi Stadium gate while their tripods and cameras lined up in the sun. and were waiting that if any important person reached here, no shot would be missed.

On this occasion, we also spoke to some security personnel and peddlers, who come here every year during the PSL matches, but they said that this time PSL is not having the same glamour.

The frame sellers also said that this time they did not get any special work. People are coming to watch the matches in very small numbers, so their earnings are quite low.

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