The matches of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) would be held as per schedule in Lahore and Rawalpindi, national cricket board chairman Najam Sethi said on Sunday.

“HBl PSL8 matches in Lahore and Pindi shall continue as scheduled,” tweeted and described the development as “good news”.

This came after Sethi, the Pakistan Cricket Board Management Committee chairman, sought Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s help earlier in the day to find a way out of the deadlock over PSL matches in Punjab.

Sethi had outlined the details of the matter to the prime minister who reportedly assured him of his full support to get the matter resolved.

Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi Saheb has been “kind enough” to agree to share the cost of lighting routes during the PSL matches in Lahore, Sethi added in the tweet.

The caretaker government in Punjab has reportedly asked the Board to pay Rs450 million for security arrangements to organise league matches in Rawalpindi and Punjab.

The Punjab government had spent Rs600 million out of its own resources for the same purpose last year, but the current government has said that it cannot spend the money as it is a caretaker set up.

PCB has prepared a Plan B, where 11 matches scheduled in Pindi and nine matches scheduled in Lahore will be shifted to Karachi from February 28 onwards.

The board was hopeful of getting the matter resolved on Sunday.

Later, Sethi thanked PM Shehbaz for facilitating a settlement with the Punjab government on the security issue.

Karachi Kings thrash Multan Sultans

Meanwhile, Karachi Kings got their revenge against Multan Sultans at their home ground. The home side thrashed the tourists at a contest, which was crucial for the Imad Wasim-led side to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

Kings had set a target of 167 runs at a slow track. Mathew Wade and Tayyab Tahir with their more than 100-run partnership helped the side to put in a big total. But, they could not manage to score many runs in the final five overs of the game due to the pace attack of Sultans—the same that won them the game in the last fixture.

In-form Wasim by scoring two boundaries in the last over helped to put a defendable target.

In reply, the spin bowling attack of the Kings won the game. South African Tabraiz Shamsi grabbed three wickets for 18 in four overs. “It was a long wait. But we have to look at the best combination that works for the team,” he said after receiving the player of the match award.

This was Kings second victory in six games that brought them to the third spot in the points table.

“If we bat and bowl according to our plans, we are a tough side to beat and in this game everything was perfect,” Wasim said.