PSL exhibition match between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi stopped due to crowd trouble amid blast reports

Ahead of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League, PCB management decided to host an exhibition match between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi at Bugti Stadium in Quetta, Balochistan in an initiative to promote the game in various parts of the country. However, due to selling tickets over capacity, a lot of people couldn’t enter the stadium and instead burnt fire outside the ground.

That is the Reason match Has been stopped in Bughti Cricket Stadium #PZvsQG #Quetta #PZvsQG Quetta Gladiators pic.twitter.com/UmtG0GOgpQ

— Muhammad Asim (@Muhammad67671) February 5, 2023

Meanwhile, a certain portion of the crowd inside the stadium pelted stones towards the players in action. Players were then escorted out of the ground. However, they returned back once everything was under control.

Blast in Quetta. Serious security concerns. It’s not a coincidence enemies of Pakistan didn’t want this match to Happen in Quetta Today. #Quetta #QGvPZ pic.twitter.com/mlNx7JMkQy

— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) February 5, 2023

Soon after, a loud blast was also heard which took place at Musa Chowk in Quetta - which is reported to be four kilometres away from the stadium. The match was immediately stopped for 30 minutes due to security reasons and some players even denied to return to the ground following that. However, they returned upon request from the management.

Iftikhar Ahmed hit six sixes to Wahab Riaz 

Amid all the drama for off-field reasons, Iftikhar Ahmed shined on the field as the 32-year-old hit six sixes to Wahab Riaz in the exhibition match. He started his innings slow, scoring 50 off 42 deliveries but in the next eight deliveries, the middle-order batter hit 44 runs to change the momentum of the game.

Iftikar Ahmed smashed six sixes off Wahab Riaz's over in the PSL 2023 exhibition match between Peshawar and Quetta. pic.twitter.com/EPct2Ei7Ba

— Cricket insect (@000insect) February 5, 2023

Courtesy of his blistering innings, Quetta posted 184 runs on the board after 20 overs. For Peshawar, Babar Azam lost his wicket really quick but Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Haris held the ship and gave them a good start.

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