PSL final to be held in Lahore

Karachi: The uncertainty around Lahore hosting the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final has finally ended as it was decided on Monday that the summit clash of the league will be held in the metropolis.

There had been speculation that the PSL final may not be held in Pakistan, leave alone Lahore, after the February 13 suicide bombing in which 13 people were killed.

However, in a meeting held between PSL chairman Najam Sethi and five franchise owners on Monday it Dubai, it was decided that the final would take place in Lahore, whether the foreign players agree to come or not.

Earlier, Sethi had assured fans that the final match in the Twenty20 series will be held in Lahore, if they want so.

The owner of Peshawar Zalmi, Javed Afridi, on Monday said that they have decided to be on the side of the PSL in the national spirit.

"Cricket is what unites the nation. Our decision on the final was made in the meeting with PSL Chairman Najam Sethi," the Dawn quoted Afridi as saying.

The league will now give franchisees the option to draft new players in case contracted international stars opt out of the March 5 final at Lahore due to security reasons.

"On Feb 22, we will do a new draft... we will put a formula in front of all the franchises and foreign players to let us know who will play the final in Lahore and who will not come," Sethi had said earlier.

Some 30 foreign players are signed up with the five franchises in the PSL including top names like Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Eoin Morgan, Sunil Narine etc.