Cricket: Pakistan PM allows fans to attend PSL 11 final amid fuel austerity measures

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Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has announced that the Prime Minister has allowed cricket fans to attend the Pakistan Super League Final despite austerity measures to minimise fuel consumption.

Naqvi said that he had made a request to Shehbaz Sharif to allow spectators into the stadium.

"While he was also inclined to permit fans, he emphasised that austerity measures are currently in place across Pakistan, with efforts underway to minimise fuel consumption," Naqvi revealed.

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The Prime Minister, however, on the request of franchise owners as well, "has graciously approved the presence of fans for the PSL 11 Final".

The minister "sincerely" thanked him for this decision and for facilitating the fans.

Pakistan has slashed fuel use ​across the government and shifted some public services online as the ⁠Israeli-US war with Iran has threatened its energy supplies and pushed fuel prices sharply higher.

Pakistan imports most of its energy, which is why its inflation rate is highly sensitive to global fuel prices.