Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the attendance of spectators at the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final following a request from franchise owners, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday.
In a post on X, Naqvi stated that he had requested the prime minister to allow fans back into stadiums. He added that although the premier was initially inclined to permit spectators, he had highlighted that austerity measures were still in place nationwide, particularly to reduce fuel consumption.
Naqvi said the prime minister “graciously approved” crowd attendance for the final after repeated requests from franchise owners. He thanked the government for facilitating fans and restoring stadium attendance for the title match.
The decision marks a partial relaxation of earlier restrictions imposed at the start of PSL 11, when matches were scheduled to be played without spectators as part of a government-led resource conservation strategy amid a regional fuel crisis linked to broader geopolitical tensions.
At the time, the PCB had limited the tournament to Karachi and Lahore to reduce travel and support austerity measures.
Franchise owners had earlier urged authorities to reconsider the no-crowd policy, arguing that matches without spectators reduced the tournament’s atmosphere and impact, and that fan presence was essential to the league’s identity.