Thaindian News

Lahore, Mar 30(ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is going to open its Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to thousands of cricket fans to watch Wednesday’s high-voltage Indo-Pak World Cup semi-final clash on big screens for free.

India and Pakistan, who have not played in any bilateral series since the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, are set to encounter in Mohali on March 30 for a slot in the World Cup final match to be held at Mumbai on April 2, sparking a frenzy on both sides of the border.

“As per the directive of the government of Pakistan, we will be setting up digital screens under flood lights at the Gaddafi Stadium to facilitate cricket fans in Lahore to witness the semifinal,” the Daily Times quoted the PCB, as saying.

Entry to the stadium will be free, and thousands of fans are expected take up the invitation.

The 30,000-capacity ground, formerly known as the Lahore Stadium, was renamed in 1974 after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was close to the then Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Besides the PCB arrangements in Lahore, fans will be able to watch the mouth-watering match on big screens in Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Quetta.

In what is being perceived as cricket diplomacy, both Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will watch the much-awaited match at the Punjab Cricket association stadium in Mohali.

Pakistan was one of the hosts of the ICC World Cup 2011, but was stripped of its matches following a terror attack on the visiting Sri Lankan team en route to the Gaddafi Stadium on March 3, 2009.

The unprecedented attack on a sport, which is a national obsession in Pakistan, killed eight people, and wounded seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach. (ANI)