Public Disinterest, Boycott, or Something Else?
In the 2025 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, Karachi’s National Stadium was allotted five matches. However, just like in previous years, the country’s largest cricket stadium – with a seating capacity of over 30,000 – once again witnessed a lack of crowd interest, even during matches involving the Karachi Kings and other teams. This recurring trend raises important questions once more: Have the people of Karachi lost interest in cricket? Or has the PSL lost its charm and failed to capture the public's attention?

These are not new concerns when it comes to Karachi’s National Stadium. Historically, there have been repeated complaints about low attendance, even during high-profile events such as the ICC Champions Trophy. Similar discussions have arisen during international T20s, ODIs, and Test matches hosted here.

Ali Tareen, owner of the PSL franchise Multan Sultans, once questioned this issue on a podcast, wondering why Karachi continues to host matches despite poor turnout. A few days ago, when he appeared on the TV show Score, I asked him directly: “Mr. Ali Tareen, are you satisfied now? The PCB has only given Karachi five matches this season.”He responded, “Look, this is exactly my complaint with the PCB. I never meant Karachi shouldn’t get matches; I meant that the facilities should be improved to encourage people to come to the stadium.”

He further added, “Can fans even see the players properly behind the iron fences placed in front of the enclosures at the National Stadium? My point was about improving these conditions. But instead, the PCB took the easy way out – they simply reduced the number of matches in Karachi.”

Indeed, this is a serious issue. The National Stadium is located in a densely populated part of Karachi. Nearby, there’s a university, a women’s college, two major hospitals, the Pakistan Television Center, and several wedding halls. I clearly remember when international cricket first returned to Pakistan, roads were blocked all the way from Millennium Mall, Karsaz, and Hassan Square. A match in the stadium would mean traffic chaos throughout the city.

Thankfully, due to the planning and efforts of security agencies, this is no longer the case. These days, fans can reach the stadium directly via ride-hailing services, and the parking situation has improved considerably. Still, several persistent issues continue to deter fans from attending matches at the stadium.

Here are a few key reasons:
1. Disconnect with Local Administration:The PCB must understand that "local administration" does not mean the Karachi Cricket Association, which currently has no active role.

2. Multiple ID Checks:Repeated identity checks at various entry points waste valuable time and frustrate fans.

3. Overpriced Food and Drinks:Sometimes, the price of refreshments inside the stadium exceeds the cost of a ticket – especially discouraging for families.

4. Last-Minute Route Changes:Fans are often informed of traffic route changes at the eleventh hour due to official decisions, leading to confusion and inconvenience.

On April 12, a thrilling match took place between the Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans, featuring two centuries and a flurry of sixes and boundaries. Yet, the stands remained largely empty. In contrast, a massive public rally had been held just a day earlier on Shahrah-e-Faisal in support of Palestinians, protesting Israeli atrocities. Following that, social media was flooded with claims that Karachiites had boycotted the PSL.

While such sentiments may exist, it’s important to recognize how deeply passionate Pakistanis are about cricket. In my view, the main issues are the lack of proper facilities, unwelcoming staff behavior, and poor coordination with the local community.

Cricket remains a major source of entertainment in Pakistan, and people do want to attend matches. Unlike Karachi, cities like Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi have consistently seen good crowd turnout, which reflects the public’s continued interest in the PSL.

This year, the PSL coincides with the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in India – for the first time ever, both leagues are running simultaneously. The IPL is the world’s biggest cricket league, while the PSL also holds significant value. However, the IPL has strengthened India’s cricket ecosystem immensely. All 10 IPL franchises play on a home-and-away basis. In contrast, PSL teams like Quetta and Peshawar still don’t have true home grounds.

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, PCB Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi spent billions upgrading stadiums in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi. Despite PSL being a decade old, two of its six teams still lack proper venues. The BCCI pays local associations a fair amount as hosting fees. In comparison, cricket associations in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan are virtually inactive.

As the home team of the National Stadium, Karachi Kings have done little to attract local fans. In contrast, Lahore Qalandars, despite limited resources, have consistently taken steps to engage the public and fill Gaddafi Stadium.

This season, IPL stadiums are packed to capacity, while PSL stadiums tell a different story. The reasons are all laid out before you. Now it's up to you to decide whether these are baseless excuses – or real, valid concerns. If taken seriously, there’s still time to improve the experience for cricket fans across Pakistan.