'Wah kya inauguration hai' - PSL exhibition match getting halted reportedly due to bomb blast in Quetta leaves fans in shock

The Pakistan Super League 2023 (PSL 8) is set to get underway on February 13 and on February 5, Sunday, Peshawar Zalmi faced off against Quetta Gladiators in an exhibition match. However, to the surprise of the fans, the match was halted for a brief moment due to a bomb blast at Musa Chowk, a few kilometres away from the stadium. 

To add more, reports claimed that it was a precautionary measure and fans, who took cognizance of the same, claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must come up with a secure environment for the players. However, to everyone’s delight, the match resumed after the halt and normalcy were ensured within the stadium. 

The teams are giving it their all in the nets ahead of the tournament, given that it is a new era for the Pakistani captain Babar Azam who is all set to lead the Zalmi camp. For the unversed, Babar was a part of Karachi Kings for the first seven editions of the PSL and made a move to the Zalmi camp ahead of the approaching season. 

Tight security in Quetta ahead of exhibition match

That being said, on Saturday, it was revealed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Quetta Azfar Mahesar that they have arranged tight security for the exhibition match. The official clarified that it was a positive step to get cricket back to Quetta and claimed that the spectators would be allowed inside the stadium with gate passes and tickets. 

“Foolproof security will be provided for the cricket match so that locals could enjoy the game. No vehicle will be allowed to enter the stadium without a sticker. It is a positive step that the PSL match will be held in Quetta, bringing the much-needed entertainment to the city,” Mahesar was quoted as saying by the Tribune. It was the Shaheen Afridi-led Lahore Qalandars who won the title last time and it remains to be seen if the change in team for Babar would help him lift the title this time around.

Here’s how fans have reacted to reports about the match getting halted due to a bomb blast in Quetta: 

Just a normal day in Pakistan.

— Manan (@Manan10678533) February 5, 2023

Sunday ko vaha blast ki chhutti nahi hoti😜

— Viru123 (@Virutweets123) February 5, 2023

Wah kya dhamakedar inaugration hai PSL ka 👏🏻👏🏻



On a serious note, Pakistan should do something about such attacks.

— Amit Dabas (@cricketandphoto) February 5, 2023

Inko Asia Cup karwana hai 😅

— Kaala Ghoda 🐎 (@ParimalAsanare) February 5, 2023

Such a misleading statement

It was stopped due to large number of spectators came and all enclosure were full so few can't get in the stadium so they as a protest threw stones at players that's why

— hammad (@iamhammad123) February 5, 2023

Jhoot mat pehlai

— Kashif siyad 🇵🇰 (@kashif_siyad) February 5, 2023