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TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017 SPORTS ‘Pakistan wins today’ as final passes off peacefully LAHORE: Pakistan yesterday hailed the hand injury. “My good friend Lala (Afridi) successful staging of the Pakistan Super said: ‘If we get to the final you should come League final as a step towards restoring to Lahore’,” Sammy told the crowd. international cricket in the country after a “I am glad I came to experience the deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team in atmosphere here. Even though Peshawar 2009. With nerves jangling after a recent came out on top, cricket was the real win- resurgence of militant violence, tight secu- ner in Lahore,” he added. rity blanketed Lahore’s sold-out Gaddafi Stadium but the game went off peacefully #CRICKETCOMESHOME with Peshawar Zalmi beating Quetta Fans around the country watched the Gladiators by 58 runs. match on giant screens placed in market- Fans held up banners proclaiming places, while many tweeted under the “Pakistan wins today”, reflecting a mood of hashtag #CricketComesHome. defiance. The rest of the Twenty20 tourna- Legendary paceman Wasim Akram ment was played in the United Arab called it a “momentous occasion for Emirates for safety reasons. Pakistan”, while fans at the ground said “Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday may have they had sent the militants a message. won the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but “I felt no fear and I just came to give a the real victory was that of the country, message to terrorists that Pakistanis are which after years of terrorism and turmoil not afraid of their cowardly acts,” said was able to stage a landmark international Mohammad Nauman, who paid $40 for his event in Lahore,” the Express Tribune said.
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