• PCB & Punjab govt still at odds over PSL security costs.
• CM denied knowing that the PCB intended to move the Pindi and Lahore matches.
• The financial centre of Karachi has already hosted eight of the nine matches.

KARACHI: The decision about the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) games in Lahore and Rawalpindi has not been made yet since interim Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi claimed that his cabinet is unwilling to reduce the costs associated with providing security for the event.

The Punjab government spent Rs600 million on the PSL the previous year, according to Naqvi, who added that “his cabinet is not ready to authorise the expenses” this time. Naqvi made these remarks to the media in Lahore on Friday.

Being “an interim set-up,” he claimed, “they cannot spend money.”

The CM denied knowing that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) intended to move the Pindi and Lahore matches to Karachi if his government refused to pay the sum of Rs450 million.

The franchises and the PCB Management Committee had earlier in the day examined the issue. It was “decided that the Rs450 million in terms of security and other expenses would not be paid to the Punjab government,” sources told the publication.

According to the sources, the PCB has stated that it will move the Lahore and Pindi matches to Karachi if the Punjab government continues to demand payment of the specified amount from the board.

According to the reports, this will result in financial savings for the PCB as well as the six PSL 2023 franchises.

The final PSL 2023 match, between Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings, will be played on Sunday. The financial center of Karachi has already hosted eight of the nine matches that are allotted to it.

In accordance with a pact it negotiated with the previous administration to host the PSL 2023 matches in Punjab, the PCB has already paid the Punjab government the overdue fee of Rs50 million. However, a caretaker administration headed by Mohsin Naqvi took over last month.

According to sources, moving the Pindi and Lahore matches to Karachi will benefit all parties involved and the Sindh government is not requesting any additional funds from the PCB.

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