Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday (May 7) announced that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the “preferred venue” to host the remainder of the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2021) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 4 March 2021, the PCB suspended the PSL 2021 with 14 of the scheduled 30 group matches having been played in Pakistan after several COVID-19 cases were recorded by different franchises.
Recently, the PCB has formally approached the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), discussing the matter after the six PSL teams wrote to the Pakistan board last week to shift the rescheduled PSL 2021 games from Karachi to the UAE after rising Coronavirus cases in the country. The PCB has also taken into account the advice from the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) before taking the decision.
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The PCB said in a statement on Friday: “As the holiday period has already started in both the countries and the Pakistan men's national cricket team has to depart for the United Kingdom on 23 June, the PCB will use this time to work with the Emirates Cricket Board to check if the event can be successfully delivered within the available time.”
The statement further reads: “During the holiday period, the PCB will work on a revised tournament schedule, while it will liaise with the ECB in relation to finalizing playing and training facilities, hotel bookings, ground transportation, and visitors visas.”
Meanwhile, PCB CEO Wasim Khan said in a statement: “We had an interactive and productive meeting in which we considered a number of factors. While the UAE has emerged as a preferred venue, a number of challenges remain, which will be worked through over the coming days. We remain committed to doing everything possible to complete the HBL PSL 6.”
The PCB signed off by saying that the Pakistan board “will also carry out a detailed financial and risk assessment as well as cost analysis before reporting back to the franchises, who will then review before a decision on the event venue is confirmed.”
Noteworthy, the remainder of the PSL 2021 is scheduled to resume on June 1 with all teams to assemble in Karachi by May 23 and begin their mandatory seven-day quarantine.
(With PTI Inputs)
