‘Chor machaye shor’ – Fans quick to troll PSL after production equipment including security cameras stolen near Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium
Cameras stolen ahead of PSL game in Lahore (Source: Twitter)
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has lived up to expectations in terms of the quality of cricket on display. However, it seems like the league and Pakistan’s Cricket management have a lot to take care of before they can confidently claim to be well-rounded hosts for any major international tournament. Earlier, during the warm-up games ahead of the PSL, there was a reported bomb blast scare that halted play temporarily in the city of Quetta. This time, however, it’s not terrorists but thieves creating menace for the PSL management.
Lahore Qalandar’s home ground, the Gaddafi Stadium was reportedly arranged with all security arrangements to host the season’s first game in Lahore scheduled for Sunday. These arrangements included 335 CCTV cameras in and around the city, 300 generators, 4000 lights, optic fiber cables, temporary hospitals, etc. However, the latest reports reveal that 8 of these CCTV cameras, fiber cables, and generator batteries were stolen from near the Gaddafi Stadium.
Thieves have been caught in CCTV footage: PSL Officials
Luckily, these thieves have been caught in CCTV footage, based on which, the Gulberg Police Station has registered a case and started an investigation. Notably, the burglary happened despite the presence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) guards, police, rangers, and PSL officials.
It is highly shocking because Pakistan is on course to be the main host of the Asia Cup, with such security threats and logistical arrangements, any team, let alone India, would be spectacular about sending their team to participate in the continental tournament. Notably, there was a dispute between the PCB and the interim Punjab government about the cost of security for conducting PSL games in the province of Punjab with a possibility of shifting these games to Karachi, Sindh after 28 February, in the case that no agreement is reached by then.
Notably, PCB Chief Najam Sethi was previously seen inaugurating state-of-the-art dressing rooms in the Gaddafi Stadium ahead of the first game of PSL to be hosted in Lahore. The Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi will go against each other on Sunday marking the first-ever PSL game in the stadium.
Here’s how fans reacted to the update:
https://twitter.com/BoiesX45/status/1629696582475202560
https://twitter.com/Manas_pr_sharma/status/1629734926651363328
https://twitter.com/TejasBirajdar5/status/1629697518677430272
https://twitter.com/TheBoyFromMars2/status/1629705614619451392
He is that man. pic.twitter.com/vl25E5b13G
— Harshal (@Harshal54p) February 26, 2023
Qassam say puri dunya mai apna mazaq khud hm bana rahy hai .agr paiso py msla bhi psl ka to in chezon k behind the door bhi raka ja sakta hai .. aur batain humari ipl say comparison krty hai hr dosry baaat py aor 25 crore ki waja say khud ko zaleel krrwa rahy hai
— salman khan (@salmantakkar) February 26, 2023
Cheap tactics from Punjab Government Aka Mohsin Naqvi… This Mohsin Naqvi has some personal issue with Sethi Sahab. I don’t think Punjab Government is behind all this it’s the Mohsin Naqvi guy whos apparently CEO of one of news channel in which Najam Sethi work paid job
— KaanpeTaangRahiHa (@ha_taang) February 26, 2023
Ab toh hassi bhi nhi aati hai aur sympathy jyada aati hai pr logh bhi kya krre bechare jab desh he bankrupt chlra . I think they should return back the land taken from India maybe then something could improvise.
— Tarun (@Tacklestar) February 26, 2023
