The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been facing logistical issues, including getting visas and permissions to land charter flights from Doha, Mumbai, and Johannesburg in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and it might lead to delay in the resumption of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2021) next month.
The reports suggested that the PSL 2021 is now likely to resume on June 9 in Abu Dhabi instead of June 1 as planned initially following the late arrival of several players, officials, and broadcasters.
It is being said that around five cricketers and two coaches from South Africa and eight Indian broadcasters will only be able to arrive in the UAE by this weekend and will have to undergo quarantine, which gave headache to the PCB over the resumption of the PSL 06 in UAE.
Apart from them, 11 players and officials from Pakistan including Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, was also barred from entering Abu Dhabi through a commercial flight via Doha and will now be sent through Bahrain, as they await their visas for the PSL 2021.
PCB has decided to send those remaining 13 players and officials to their respective homes after consulting the PSL 2021 medical panel so that they can spend time with their families, as “there can potentially be some more delays in the issuance of the remaining visas.”
According to PCB, as soon as the visas are processed, the players will undergo the mandatory PCR tests before boarding the first available commercial flight for the PSL 06 in Abu Dhabi.
The PCB Director, Commercial and PSL 6 head Babar Hamid, said in an official statement: “We regret the inconvenience that has been caused to some players and officials, but these have been due to unforeseen circumstances and unexpected challenges.”
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Hamid further stated, “The PCB is working hand in glove with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Cricket Board, and trying its best to get all participants in Abu Dhabi in time so that we can hold the remaining tournament.”
The PCB confirmed that 5 players and officials arrived in Abu Dhabi from Karachi via Doha on Sunday (May 30), while 12 players and officials left Lahore on Sunday evening and will arrive in Abu Dhabi via Bahrain on Monday (May 31) – all they flew as per the exemption acquired from the UAE government.
Noteworthy, Geo TV claimed that the remaining 13 players and officials have been cleared to fly to Abu Dhabi on Monday at around 4 am.
(With ANI Inputs)
