In the lead-up to the highly anticipated final of the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) between Multan Sultans and Islamabad United in Karachi on March 18, there has been some controversy surrounding Multan’s pre-match press conference.
Videos have emerged showing journalists walking out of the press conference after a disagreement with the team’s media manager. Reportedly, the manager instructed them not to participate if they were unwilling to do so.
In the video, that has been doing rounds on the internet, the reporters walked out leaving just two journalists in the room. Soon, the manager also left the place. Here is the clip.
The ongoing season of PSL saw several controversies, including a lack of fans in the stadium. The National Stadium in Karachi has been under scrutiny due to poor attendance throughout the season, particularly evident during the second eliminator match between Islamabad and Peshawar Zalmi.
Despite Islamabad securing a five-wicket victory and securing their spot in the final, the stands were notably empty. This stands in stark contrast to the vibrant atmosphere witnessed in other venues such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan, where packed stadiums have been the norm.
Former Pakistan cricket captain and legendary fast bowler, Wasim Akram, expressed his dismay at the lack of crowd presence in Karachi, labelling it as embarrassing. He highlighted the significant absence of spectators, especially during the crucial matches.
Adding to the anticipation of the final, which is also scheduled to be held in Karachi, is the fact that it falls on a Monday, potentially impacting crowd turnout even further.
Talking about Multan Sultans, they dominated the league table this season, winning seven out of their ten matches, while Islamabad United finished third. Multan advanced to the final by defeating Peshawar Zalmi in the qualifier, while Islamabad secured their spot by triumphing over Quetta Gladiators in the first eliminator and then overcoming Peshawar Zalmi in the second.