Big-time cricket returns to Karachi after 9 years

Pakistan's biggest city will stage a high-profile cricket match for the first time in nine years on Sunday. The Pakistan Super League final will be held amid heavy security at a newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi.

More than 8,000 security personnel have been deployed for the Twenty20 final between Islamabad United and last year's champions, Peshawar Zalmi.

Darren Sammy, left, skipper of Peshawar Zalmi cricket team, and Misbah-ul-Haq, skipper of Islamabad United cricket team pose for photo with the trophy of Pakistan Super League, in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Pakistan's biggest city will witness a high-profile cricket match for the first time in nine years on Sunday when the Pakistan Super League final is staged amid heavy security at a newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Paramilitary soldiers frisk people at the main entrance of National Stadium ahead of Pakistan Super League final in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Pakistan's biggest city will witness a high-profile cricket match for the first time in nine years on Sunday when the Pakistan Super League final is staged amid heavy security at a newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Presidential-like security has been put in place on routes from the hotel to the stadium. For practice on Saturday, the team vans were surrounded by a fleet of security vehicles carrying armed guards.

"It's been really good. All the logistical works have been done behind the scenes, and we've been brought here pretty safely," Islamabad United stand-in captain JP Duminy said.

"It's obviously going to be an exciting occasion to be part of PSL final and more specifically being in Karachi."

Paramilitary soldiers stand guard at the National Stadium ahead of Pakistan Super League final in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Pakistan's biggest city will witness a high-profile cricket match for the first time in nine years on Sunday when the Pakistan Super League final is staged amid heavy security at a newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Groundsmen prepare the pitch for the final match of the Pakistan Super League at the National Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Pakistan's biggest city will witness a high-profile cricket match for the first time in nine years on Sunday when the Pakistan Super League final is staged amid heavy security at a newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Islamabad United's regular captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, has not fully recovered from a hand injury.

The last major game with international players in Karachi was in February 2009, a Pakistan-Sri Lanka test.

On the same tour, terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team convoy at Lahore that March. Six Pakistan policemen and two civilians were killed, and six members of the Sri Lanka team were injured.

That resulted in an end to international cricket in the country, and the Pakistan Cricket Board moved its home matches to the United Arab Emirates.

The PCB has gradually convinced international players to return, and Lahore hosted the first PSL final last year, and there were Twenty20s organized against a World XI (three matches) and Sri Lanka (one).

A Pakistani worker fixes a cut-out of a cricket player displayed along roadside in preparation of the upcoming Pakistan Super League final in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Pakistan's biggest city will witness a high-profile cricket match for the first time in nine years on Sunday when the Pakistan Super League final is staged amid heavy security at a newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

A man takes a photo of his friend standing besides a cut-out of a cricket player displayed along roadside in preparation of the upcoming Pakistan Super League final in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Pakistan's biggest city will witness a high-profile cricket match for the first time in nine years on Sunday when the Pakistan Super League final is staged amid heavy security at a newly renovated National Stadium in Karachi. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

A reluctance from some international PSL players to play in Pakistan remains. The preliminary matches were played at Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE.

Australian Shane Watson (Quetta Gladiators) and Englishmen Eoin Morgan (Karachi) and Kevin Pietersen (Quetta) refused to accompany their teams to Lahore this week for two PSL eliminators.

The absence of the top stars hurt both franchises and drew an angry response from Gladiators coach and former Pakistan captain Moin Khan.

"We, in the coming season, should only pick players who have the consent to visit Pakistan," Moin said after losing the first eliminator against Zalmi.

"We do not need to push for individuality as our league has now become a bigger brand ... we don't need to get these players who don't want to come to Pakistan. In fact, this is hurting Pakistan as it is sending a negative signal and affects our country's image as well."

Other internationals playing in the final include Peshawar Zalmi's Darren Sammy of West Indies and Chris Jordan of England, and for Islamabad United, JP Duminy of South Africa and Luke Ronchi of New Zealand.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Mark Chapman cashed in on three dropped catches and smashed 87 not out off 42 balls as understrength New Zealand beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the third T20 to level the five-match series at 1-1 on Sunday.

Chapman and Dean Foxcroft (31) shared a century stand for the third wicket and New Zealand reached 179-3 in 18.2 overs, only a day after the visitors were bundled out for 90 runs to lose the second game by seven wickets.

An inexperienced Black Caps bowling attack, that featured debutant fast bowlers Will O’Rourke and Zak Foulkes, had earlier pinned down Pakistan to 178-4 after Michael Bracewell won the toss and chose to field first.

It was an impressive performance by New Zealand which showed its bench strength after nine of its frontline players were unavailable because of the Indian Premier League.

“Really happy with the way guys put the learnings from last night,” Bracewell said. “I think the way Ish (Sodhi) bowled in the middle (overs) was outstanding… (and) the partnership between Foxy and Chapman was outstanding.”

Pakistan’s batting mainstays -- captain Babar Azam (37) and Mohammad Rizwan (22) -- couldn’t convert good starts with Rizwan forced to retire hurt (right hamstring) midway through the innings.

Pakistan felt Rizwan’s absence in the field too when makeshift wicketkeeper Usman Khan dropped one of the three catching chances of Chapman, who smashed nine fours and four sixes.

“Maybe we were 10 runs short,” Babar said. “We started well with the ball in the first six overs, but when you drop a set batter’s catch then he will take away the game from you. Chapman has always done well against us.”

New Zealand lost both its openers within the powerplay as Tim Siefert was bowled by Abbas Afridi (2-27) off a delivery that kept low and Naseem Shah got Tim Ribinson’s middle stump uprooted with a brutal yorker.

But Chapman then took control against Pakistan spinners Abrar Ahmed (0-31) and Shadab Khan (0-24) before he cut loose against Naseem (1-44) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (0-37) in the death overs.

Chapman had scored his career-best unbeaten 104 at the same Pindi Cricket Stadium last year when New Zealand drew the T20 series 2-2. He smashed Naseem for two sixes and two fours in one over to raise the century stand in the 16th over before Foxcroft top edged a pull against Abbas in his return spell with the Black Caps needing only nine for victory.

Earlier, New Zealand was also scrappy in the field when Seifert dropped Saim Ayub (32) down the legside in the second over as the left-hander provided Pakistan with a brisk start of 54-0 in the power play.

Ayub also successfully overturned an lbw decision against him before leg-spinner Sodhi (2-25) stemmed the flow of runs soon after the power play when he had Ayub caught in the outfield.

Bracewell, who bowled two overs of off spin in the power play, returned and took the prized wicket of Babar when the Pakistan skipper offered a tame catch at backward point.

Shadab Khan’s brisk 41 off 20 balls lifted Pakistan’s total that included 19 runs in Bracewell’s last over of his spell but not before Cole McConchie had dropped Shadab early in his knock.

The five-match series now moves to Lahore which hosts the remaining two games on Thursday and Saturday.

The first match was washed out at Rawalpindi with only two balls bowled.

__

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

New Zealand's Ish Sodhi, center, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Saim Ayub during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Shadab Khan plays a shot during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub plays a shot during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Ish Sodhi, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Usman Khan during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Tim Robinson is bowled out by Pakistan's Naseem Shah during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Tim Seifert, left, reacts after he bowled out by Pakistan's Abbas Afridi, center, during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Tim Robinson plays a shot during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Mark Chapman, left, and James Neesham, right, shake hand with Pakistan's Shadab Khan on the end of play of the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Dean Foxcroft, right, plays shot as Pakistan' Usman Khan watches during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Mark Chapman, left, and Dean Foxcroft run between the wickets during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

New Zealand's Mark Chapman plays a shot during the third T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Mohammad Amir celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Dean Foxcroft during the second T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Tim Seifert during the second T20 international cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Saturday, April 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)