PM Shehbaz Lifts Crowd Ban for PSL 11 Final Amid Fuel Crisis

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has authorized the return of spectators for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final, scheduled for May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium. The announcement was made by Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday via X (formerly Twitter).

According to Naqvi, the Prime Minister’s decision came after a formal request from franchise owners. While PM Shehbaz was initially hesitant due to nationwide austerity measures—aimed at curbing fuel consumption during the global energy crisis caused by the US-Israel-Iran conflict—he “graciously” opted to allow fans for the tournament’s climax.

The tournament, originally planned for six cities, had been restricted to Karachi and Lahore with empty stands to save costs.