Five-layer security put in place for PSL final in Lahore

Karachi: In order to avoid any untoward incident at Sunday`s Pakistan Super League (PSL) final at the Gaddafi Stadium, unrivalled security arrangements have been put in place by the Pakistan Government.

A five-layer security will be looking after the two domestic teams, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators, which will also feature four foreign cricketers each.

As per the Dawn, the army personnel, rangers and police officials have completely cordoned-off the area and their vehicles are frequently patrolling the stadium.In order to meet any medical emergency, a temporary 25-bed hospital has also been set up at the National Hockey Stadium, adjacent to Gaddafi Stadium, which will be working 24 hours.

Both the teams would be carried out from their hotels to the stadium and back in PCB`s own bullet proof buses.

It is also reported in some section of the local media that gas supply to the surrounding areas has been suspended for the last three days in order to avoid any mishap such as gas cylinder blast etc.

Ticket-holders would be provided with a shuttle bus to take them from their parking stands to respective enclosures and then back to the parking areas.Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Mamnoon Hussain and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa will be present at the Gaddafi Stadium to witness the match.

Earlier, there were doubts whether the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would hold the PSL final in Lahore following the February 13 suicide bombing in which 13 people were killed.

However, in a meeting held earlier this month between the PSL management and the five franchise owners in Dubai, it was decided the summit clash of the tournament would be held at the PCB headquarters on March 5 as per schedule.

Last Monday, the Punjab government also gave its go-ahead for the final to take place in Lahore following thorough consideration and evaluation of security conditions in the country following a series of bomb blasts in the preceding weeks.

Meanwhile, Rana Sanaullah Provincial Law Minister, has informed that cellphone service will not be suspended in Lahore on March 5.

Talking to the media at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, the minister said high security would not only be in place for the stadium but for the entire city.It should be noted that Pakistan have not hosted any international cricket tournaments since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009,when six Pakistani Policemen were killed and some of the visiting players were injured.