Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is gearing up to resume its suspended Pakistan Super League (PSL 2021) in June in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) keeping in place the strict COVID-19 measures and other options to beat the UAE heat during the tournament.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL 2021) was suspended in February after the Coronavirus breached the bio-secure environment in Karachi. Well, the PCB is all set to stage the remainder of the PSL 06 games in the extremely hot and humid weather of Abu Dhabi early next month in the UAE.
In order to avoid the risk of cramping in the UAE, the PSL franchises are looking to beat the heat with coconut water, ice collars, and vests as well as more breaks during the tournament.
Mohammad Akram, Peshawar Zalmi head coach, said: “We have a strategy to use coconut water as much as we can to maintain body temperature. We need to keep the boys hydrated and avoid the risk of cramping. Since most of the games will be played at night, we are not worried about heat strokes.”
He added, “It’s more about how we combat the humidity. Hence, the use of coconut water helps us against the risk of losing electrolytes from the body. I am not sure if more than two or three extra breaks are feasible in between the innings but we plan to supply coconut water at the boundary especially for the bowlers.”
Meanwhile, the PSL franchises are reportedly investing in ice vests for the players to wear on the field and there has been talking of using lighter material for team kits during the PSL 06.
The PCB has created three bubbles for the PSL – Bubble A is for players, support staff, match officials, hotel staff, and PCB officials, while Bubble B is for the broadcast production crew and key event management personnel and Bubble C is for accommodating the groundstaff to control the COVID-19 spread.
In Abu Dhabi, two teams are lodged in one hotel and both are on different floors, while the GPS fob tracking devices will be given to every individual and on any breach, it will trigger a beep.
Noteworthy, Pakistani travelers will undergo a strict seven-day quarantine in Abu Dhabi while those coming from India will have to undergo a strict 10-day quarantine, as per the UAE’s COVID-19 rules.
(With IANS Inputs)
