It has been a very long since cricket fans in Quetta enjoyed a match with top international stars in their city.

They last had the taste of international cricket, when the Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti Cricket Stadium hosted an ODI between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in 1996.

Since then, it had hosted several domestic matches and tournaments, but not something that would catch the attention globally.

However, after the arrival of the Najam Sethi-led regime in the Pakistan Cricket Board, there was hope that the city may finally get to see some international and national stars at the historic venue.

Though organizing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight matches in Balochistan’s capital seem impossible at the moment, however, a new development comes as a ray of hope as Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators are planning to play an exhibition match ahead of the tournament.

If all things go as planned, then fans may see Sarfaraz Ahmed taking on Babar Azam on February 05, Kashmir Day. Only Pakistan players will be available for the exhibition game.

According to sources, the board is in consultation with the production and marketing teams, who visited the venue after the conclusion of the three-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand.

Moreover, the board is also working with security officials to make the match successful. The renovation work to make the stadium ready for the game has also started.

Squads:

Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Umar Akmal, Naseem Shah, Ahsan Ali, Umaid Asif, Muhammad Zahid, Abdul Bangalzai, Aimal Khan and Omair Bin Yousuf.

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal, Salman Irshad, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal, Saim Ayub, Usman Qadir, Sufyan Muqeem and Haseeb Ullah.