The Chairman of the ICC taskforce on Pakistan, Giles Clarke, has expressed his support of holding the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Lahore. Speaking to a private news channel, Giles Clark voiced his support for the final to be conducted in Lahore despite the recent bombings all over the country.
The Chairman said that Lahore hosting the final of the PSL would send a strong message to terrorists that “we will not bow down to them.” Saying that violence and killing is never a way to get a point across, Giles Clarke asserted that “we should never, ever allow terrorism and terrorists to dictate what we do. Terrorists have no place in our society or anywhere on earth.”
Mr. Clarke also praised the Pakistani nation for its resilience, calling them “true cricket lovers” and saying they deserve to see their heroes battling it out against international superstars in their home grounds.
Appreciating the efforts of the PCB and the Punjab government in providing security for the PSL final, Clarke said he was impressed with “the massive investment made and the determination of the people of Punjab, and the dedication they show for holding the final in Lahore.”
Giving his personal opinion, Clarke expounded that “This is a long road, and we are starting with the first step. It’s really important that everybody in world cricket and in Pakistan supports those who seek to bring a calm and save environment for sports to be played in and watched.”
The Chairman also praised the PSL franchise saying it gave the world of cricket high intensity encounters between the world’s biggest stars, and even hinted at possibly attending the final in Lahore.
Clarke reiterated the importance of holding the final match of the tournament in Lahore ─ “so we can bring bilateral international cricket to Pakistan.”