PSL owners press PM to reopen stadiums for fans

Owners of Pakistan Super League franchises have appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to permit spectators back into stadiums, saying the competition loses much of its identity and atmosphere when matches are played behind closed doors.

The request comes during a season being staged under restrictions linked to the government's wider conservation and austerity measures. Matches are being held only in Karachi and Lahore, with authorities aiming to limit movement and manage the impact of the regional fuel crisis.

Franchise representatives said public attendance is central to the league's success, not only commercially but emotionally, because fan energy has long been one of PSL's defining strengths. Team owners described the tournament as a national celebration that feels incomplete without supporters in the stands.

The appeal now places pressure on the government to decide whether public enthusiasm for cricket can be balanced with broader state measures tied to the regional emergency and energy-saving policies.