PSL’s Indian broadcasting team yet to get clearance from Abu Dhabi authorities, confirms PCB

The PSL 2021 is scheduled to start from June 7 or 8 if required permissions are gathered.

By Jatin Sharma - 03 Jun, 2021

The 16-member Indian team which is responsible for broadcasting the second half of the PSL 2021, which is to be played in Abu Dhabi, is yet to get clearance from concerned authorities of the gulf nation which has led to the delay in finalizing the dates of the event, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said.

The PSL 2021 was suspended in March after the completion of just 14 games due to rising COVID-19 cases among players and officials. After trying to play the remaining 20 matches in Karachi, the PCB was advised to move the tournament and they chose Abu Dhabi to resume the PSL 2021 but were slammed for the way it shifted the event to Abu Dhabi.

"Till Wednesday the PCB is still awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Health of Abu Dhabi to allow 16 members of the broadcasting crew from India to cover the event which has already led to the delay of Pakistan team's departure to England by two days," a source in the board said.

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He further revealed that the Indian broadcasting team of PSL 2021 was in quarantine in Abu Dhabi, but were told to leave the hotel by the health officials, who informed that they had to isolate themselves in some other Emirates state before entering Abu Dhabi.

The Indian broadcasters were brought to the UAE by a chartered plane by the PCB.

"If we get required permission on Thursday then the PSL 6 will start from 7 or 8 June and if there is further delay then the wait will get longer," the source said.

Initially, the PCB had announced it would hold the remaining games of PSL 6 from 2-20 June.

"The board has also been forced to rethink its schedule because of the hot weather conditions in Abu Dhabi and once it became obvious it would be difficult to hold doubleheaders in this weather," he said.

(PTI inputs)

By Jatin Sharma - 03 Jun, 2021

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