The Pakistan Super League (PSL 2026) is facing one hurdle after another. On March 22, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had announced that PSL 2026 will be played behind closed doors, with only Karachi and Lahore hosting the games, due to the fuel crisis in Pakistan as a result of the ongoing West Asia conflict.

However, there could be more to this development than meets the eye. According to reports, overseas players due to participate in the PSL have been advised to withdraw from the tournament or face serious consequences.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, an armed opposition party in Pakistan, has released a public statement advising international stars like David Warner, Steve Smith, and Daryl Mitchell not to participate. The group issued a stark ultimatum, claiming that players' safety cannot be guaranteed if they travel to Pakistan for the PSL 2026.

The organization explained its position by saying that while they are not against cricket as a sport, the current security situation in Pakistan makes it inappropriate to host a high-profile competition with international players.

"We want to advise the relevant cricket boards not to send their players to Pakistan. If something happens to them, it will not be our responsibility. We have already issued our warning," a commander of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar told The Sunday Guardian.

When asked how the group would respond if players ignored the warning, the commander added, "We will do whatever is in our capacity, but we will not let the matches happen. We will do our best to ensure that the tournament is disrupted and the players do not take to the field."

PSL 2026, after a long time, will feature some big foreign names like Australia’s David Warner, Steve Smith, and Adam Zampa, alongside England's Moeen Ali and New Zealand's Devon Conway.

PCB is yet to release the schedule and format for the PSL 2026, which is set to begin on March 26.