Nadeem wants PCB to consider Quetta as a venue for PSL 4

KARACHI: The owner of Quetta Gladiators Nadeem Omar has requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider Quetta as one of the venues for Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 4 to be held next year.

The PCB and PSL chairman Najam Sethi announced on Sunday that Hyderabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar could host matches of PSL 4 and that stadiums will be upgraded for the purpose as the board plans to host half of the league in Pakistan next year.

“Quetta should be considered as one of the venues for PSL 4 because the people of Balochistan deserve to see the stars in action. It will have a positive impact on the youth of Quetta and the whole province,” Nadeem said.

“The pitch, outfield and the whole facility of Bugti Stadium is outstanding and all it needs is uplifting of the venue like any other city. I am sure that all stakeholders of Quetta, including provincial government and Pakistan Army, will help us out in this initiative,”

“Cricket is a binding force and has given the people of Balochistan a reason to smile. Having PSL matches staged in Quetta can leave a lasting impression,” he said.Nadeem added that he has been in talks with all the major stakeholders of the region and have got assurances from them that if PSL matches are hosted in the city, all needed arrangements will be made.

Quetta Gladiators have been one of the most impressive teams in the three seasons of PSL — ending up as runner-up twice and losing in the eliminator this year.“Quetta Gladiators have become a huge brand and we’ve played an important role in the success of PSL by putting Quetta on the global map. People now recognize Quetta as a force and this is why Quetta along with Peshawar deserves to host the PSL matches,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Nadeem also praised the role of Sethi in making PSL a successful brand.“Sethi has done a wonderful job in making PSL what it is today. He had the courage of going ahead with the league when even people in PCB were against it. He brought it to Lahore and now Karachi which clearly shows that he delivers,” he said.

Nadeem also advised the PCB to only put in name of those foreign players in the PSL draft who are willing to play in Pakistan.It should be recalled that Gladiators suffered recently when their star player Shane Watson and medium fast-bowler Ben Laughlin did not come to Pakistan after committing earlier.