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.

RAJKOT, India (AP) — Daryl Mitchell scored 131 not out off 117 balls as New Zealand beat India by seven wickets in the second one-day international to draw level in the three-match series Wednesday.

Mitchell’s eighth ODI hundred helped the Black Caps score 286-3 in 47.3 overs — in reply to India’s 284-7 (50 overs).

Will Young also scored 87 off 98 balls, as he and Mitchell put on a match-winning 162 off 152 balls for the third wicket. It was the fourth-highest third-wicket partnership for the Black Caps in ODIs.

Mitchell's century topped Lokesh Rahul’s 112 not out off 92 balls. India — put into bat — was 118-4 at one stage, before Rahul played a rescuing hand with his eighth hundred in ODIs.

Medium pacer Kristian Clarke had picked 3-56 in eight overs for the Black Caps.

India won the first ODI in Vadodara by four wickets. Indore will host the decider Sunday.

Earlier, skipper Shubman Gill scored a second consecutive half-century as India made a decent start.

Gill scored 56 off 53 balls, with nine fours and a six, as he put on 70 off 74 balls with Rohit Sharma (24).

Clarke had Sharma caught off a miscue in the 13th over as India’s progress slowed down. Later, Virat Kohli (23) also chopped onto his stumps off Clarke.

In between, Gill failed to carry on from his start while vice-captain Shreyas Iyer (8) too was caught off Clarke in the 22nd over.

Rahul then shepherded the innings as he put on vital lower-order partnerships. He added 73 off 88 balls with Ravindra Jadeja (27) and then another 57 off 49 balls with Nitish Reddy (20).

The keeper-batter reached 50 off 52 balls, and then accelerated toward the end overs to score the next 50 off 35 balls. Overall, his hundred came off 87 balls even as India ended up with a below-par score.

In reply, New Zealand did not start well. Harshit Rana bowled Devon Conway for 16, while Prasidh Krishna bowled Henry Nicholls for 10. The Black Caps were down to 46-2 in 12.4 overs.

Mitchell and Young then came together and stitched together a dominant partnership.

Young scored 50 off 68 balls — his first against India in ODIs as also a first 50-plus score in 12 innings. Mitchell too scored 50 off 52 balls.

While the Indian attack struggled with evening dew, there were also a couple late reprieves for the two batters. The pair survived a run-out chance while Mitchell also gained from a dropped catch, both in the 36th over.

“The run-rate had crept up to seven but once we got into a rhythm, we felt there was an opportunity to put pressure back onto India,” Young said. “We timed it very well. After scoring 300 in the first game, 285 felt like a very chaseable number.”

Kuldeep Yadav — expensive on the day with 1-82 in 10 overs — finally got the breakthrough in the 38th over sending back Young.

It wasn’t enough — Mitchell scored 100 off 96 balls and then sped his way to the finish line, finishing with 11 fours and two sixes.

New Zealand won with 15 balls remaining and sealed its highest ODI chase on Indian soil.

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

India's KL Rahul celebrates after scoring a century during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

India's KL Rahul celebrates after scoring a century during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell celebrates after scoring a century during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell celebrates after scoring a century during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of India's Virat Kohli during the first One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Vadodara, India, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

India's Virat Kohli reacts as he leaves the field after losing his wicket during the first One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Vadodara, India, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)