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LAHORE: The Punjab government has requisitioned troops of Rangers, Army as well as aviation assets, for the ICC Women Cricket World Cup Qualifier and the Pakistan Super League (PSL Edition X) beginning from April 9 and April 11, respectively, in three cities of the province, including Lahore.
Women cricket teams from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Scotland, Ireland, West Indies and Thailand, will participate in the World Cup qualifier matches beginning from April 9 in Lahore, while the PSL matches will start from April 11 in three cities — Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.
The federal government has granted VVIP status to the six teams participating in the World Cup qualifier matches scheduled to be held in Lahore.
A home department letter addressed to the ministry of interior and narcotics control secretary requisitioned the troops of the Rangers, the Pakistan Army and the aviation assets for protection and security of the teams during their stay, travel and movement in Lahore till April 20.
The home department has requisitioned the troops in three tiers, besides a standby component.
The Punjab government has planned a first-tier response team comprising police and Special Protection Unit (SPU) for close protection, followed by a second-tier response team having one Punjab Rangers wing, while the third-tier comprises two companies of ex-Standard Infantry Battalion. It has also arranged one anti-terrorist platoon, ex-Light Commando Battalion, along with a helicopter, as a standby security apparatus.
For the PSL-X, the Punjab home department has requisitioned troops, stating that the high-profile event would be participated in by international cricketers, match officials, foreign dignitaries, production crew and media persons in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.
In the PSL-X event, the police and SPU will closely protect the crickets at all three locations. In the second and third tiers, each match venue will be covered by one wing of Rangers, and two companies of the ex-Standard Infantry Battalion, respectively. It is learnt that the interior ministry has okayed the home department’s request and allowed the deployment of the Rangers and army troops, alongside aviation assets.
Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2025
Mansoor Malik is a reporter for Dawn with three decades of experience covering politics, governance, legislation, education, and health. He can be found on X at @mansoor691.
