Police officials in Lahore have planned strict action against online gambling and betting during the ongoing T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand.

Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana has ordered the officials concerned to carry out intelligence-based raids to apprehend the gamblers involved in online betting games and monitor the apps and social media accounts promoting gambling.

The official stated that a total of 423 cases have been registered against gamblers this year. He also said 1,863 gamblers were arrested while also recovering an amount in excess of Rs5.4 million.

Pakistan is hosting New Zealand in the final T20I of the five-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, today (Saturday) where they would aim to end it on a positive note.

Having lost in their previous two matches, there is no room for error as despite having a full-strength squad, Babar Azam’s men trail the five-match series by 2-1 against a relatively inexperienced New Zealand team.

The hopes of clinching the series are gone, Pakistan, at best, can draw it by winning the last match and this is what the Green Shirts will have in mind when they will take the field on Saturday.

While there’s still hope of levelling the series with a win on Saturday, the Men in Green would play their best playing XI as it would be essential to not end up on the losing side with T20 World Cup 2024 around the corner.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series schedule

April 20 — 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi: Pakistan won by seven wickets

April 21 — 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi: New Zealand won by seven wickets

April 25 — 4th T20I, Lahore: New Zealand won by four runs

April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore