Blast outside cricket stadium in Pakistan; Players moved to safety

A number of Pakistani cricketers, including former all-rounder Shahid Afridi and current captain Babar Azam, have been shifted to the safety of their dressing rooms following the terror attack in Quetta. Afridi and Babar played an exhibition match for Peshawar Zalmi against Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 at the Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 5.

The blast occurred a few kilometers down the road where the PSL 2023 exhibition match was being held. Five people were injured after the blast in the police lines area. According to a senior police officer, rescue operations have been completed and the injured have been shifted to hospital. “As soon as the explosion occurred, as a precaution, the match was stopped and the players were taken to the dressing room for a while. Later, after the green signal, the match resumed,” said a police official.

The outlawed Pakistani Taliban (TTP) claimed responsibility for the terror attack in a statement on Sunday. Despite the explosion near the venue, the stadium in Quetta was packed.

PSL matches in Pakistan were mostly played in Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. But after pressure from Baloch fans that Quetta should also get PSL status, the exhibition match took place. Both Babar and Afridi represented Zalmi in the match. Babar was earlier named Zalmi captain, replacing fast bowler Wahab Riaz.