Ravi Bopara happy to play Pakistan Super League final in Lahore
Friday 3 March 2017 16:00, UK
Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has confirmed he will travel to Lahore for the Pakistan Super League final if his franchise qualifies.
Bopara's Karachi Kings side take on Peshawar Zalmi in the second semi-final in Dubai on Friday and, if they secure victory, the 31-year-old Essex player will make a journey a number of high-profile British players have decided is not safe enough to undertake.
The country has not hosted major international cricket since the Sri Lankan team bus was involved in a terrorist attack in 2009, an incident which took place close to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium and claimed the lives of six policemen and two civilians.
The Professional Cricketers' Association and FICA, the international equivalent, have advised against taking part in a Lahore-based finale but Bopara is happy to ignore their advice.
"If we win tonight I will travel to Lahore for the final," he tweeted.
The group stages and knockout matches of the PSL Twenty20 competition have been held in Pakistan's adopted home of the United Arab Emirates but the showpiece is due to take place at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Overseas players were given the option not to play in Lahore, where there have been at least two further deadly attacks this year, although financial incentives in the form of appearance bonuses were on offer.
Pietersen, Wright and Mills quickly announced they were not prepared to play in the final once their Quetta Gladiators side qualified.
New Zealand's Brendon McCullum and Rilee Rossouw of South Africa have also withdrawn.
International commentators Danny Morrison, Mel Jones and Alan Wilkins are also reported to have made themselves unavailable, while Sunset & Vine, the television production house responsible for delivering the rest of the tournament, are not involved with the final.
