Only Rs 12,000 tickets remain for PSL final

LAHORE: Ticket sales for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final have been extraordinary and within two days tickets ranging from Rs 500 – Rs 8,000 have been sold out.

Bank of Punjab officials told Geo News they are not selling tickets anymore, adding that no branch of the bank had received any tickets on Thursday.

Long ques of fans wanting tickets to the PSL final were witnessed outside banks in the provincial capital of Punjab for a second consecutive day. Fans said they had been waiting in line as early as 7:00 AM, some came and even eat their breakfast outside

On Tuesday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan had announced that 1,000 tickets will be sold for Rs 500. Charged fans complained that even Rs 4,000 tickets were not available let alone those which cost Rs 500.

Bank officials say they have nothing to do with it as they were provided tickets by the PCB.

Some people had breakfast while waiting in the queue

The online booking of tickets has also been completed, with fans lamenting non-availability of tickets for Majid Khan, Imtiaz Ahmed, Saeed Ahmed and Javed Miandad enclosures.

The booking opened late Tuesday night, which was completed early Wednesday. Those who booked the tickets said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn't send the tickets for the enclosures they had purchased.

Prior to this, online booking of tickets was completed for Imran Khan, Fazal Mehmood, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis enclosures. The price of tickets further soared after inclusion of service charges.

The ticket with Rs12000 cost was sold for Rs12840, Rs8000 ticket for Rs8560 and Rs4000 ticket for Rs4280.

The Bank of Punjab places a sign outside its office

More tickets put on sale

However, the PCB, considering the huge demand by fans, has decided to cut short its corporate commitments and provide more tickets to banks for sale.

The decision to conduct the PSL 2 final in Lahore was taken during a meeting of the Provincial Cabinet Committee on Law and Order. The decision was taken after Shahbaz Sharif consulted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said foolproof security would be ensured for the mega event.

The Punjab CM directed the cabinet committee to make best arrangements, and review security and other measures on daily basis. He said he would personally monitor the progress regularly.

Foreign players associated with the Quetta Gladiators have refused to play the final of the Pakistan Super League in Lahore, sources privy to the development told Geo News.

In tweets shortly after the Gladiators win against Zalmi in Sharjah, star batsman Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Tymal Mills confirmed their unavailability for PSL`s final in Lahore.