Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called for the immediate postponement of the Pakistan Super League 2021 (PSL) tournament in March this year. As the country witnessed a rapid surge in Covid-19 cases, seven players and one support staff official tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection. The leading cricket body noted that the tough decision had been taken out of consideration for the health and wellbeing of all participants. Now, it has been reported that all six PSL franchises are putting pressure on PCB to organise the remainder of the matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Previously, the cricket board announced after meeting with the franchises as well as the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) — the country’s main backbone organisation in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic — that it would organise the remaining matches of the sixth edition from June 1 to June 20 in Karachi. However, now the franchises have reportedly requested PCB to hold the matches in the Gulf country.
“The cricket board is working on different options to hold the PSL. It is difficult to find out a window due to the national team’s packed international schedule,” said a PCB official, adding that a verdict is yet to be made. “A decision will be taken in future as per the guidelines of NCOC,” the spokesperson added, assuring that whatever step is taken will be for the health and safety of all stakeholders. The insider informed that there is no change in the PSL schedule for now and everything will go as planned unless announced otherwise. The Indian Premier League (IPL) was also delayed on Tuesday after six players and staff members taking part in the competition tested positive for the coronavirus. Needless to say, both Pakistan and India are currently in the midst of a deadly wave of the pandemic.
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