After a last-ball win in the first play-off against Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators recruit Kevin Pietersen quoted Imran Khan’s statement when asked whether he would travel to Lahore to play the final of Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Pietersen’s decision came after Imran Khan told one of the news channels in Pakistan ‘the idea to have PSL final in Lahore is madness’.
Imran, who is Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, stated closed roads would not convey the message of peace while having the tight security on the roads.
“This is such a bad idea, for I can’t understand what we will gain through this. Bringing army to Lahore and alarming security to hold a match, that too a PSL match not an international one…..Will this make people think that peace has been restored in Lahore,” Imran told Geo News.
Seen as a big blow for the Gladiators, Luke Wright, Tymal Mills have also exempted themselves from playing in Pakistan after several other foreign cricketers refused to play the final in Pakistan due to security reasons.
In 17 innings of both PSL editions, Pietersen has scored 458 runs at the strike-rate of 141.36 for Quetta Gladiators with three fifties.
According to a report, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen left United Arab Emirates after his side beat Zalmi to qualify for the final.
“What message of peace will we send out in such conditions,” Imran was quoted earlier.
However, the Gladiators are busy in finalizing their team for the grand finale of the Twenty20 league at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The PSL final is scheduled to be held at Lahore on March 5.