PSL Trophy, PSL 2023
PSL Trophy (Image Credit: Twitter)

With a surge of COVID-19 cases in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL 2021) season 6, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to halt and postpone the tournament. The PSL 2021 was meant to be played at four venues this year, however thanks to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the PCB decided to hold all 34 matches in Karachi and Lahore.

The first leg of 20 matches is being played at the National Stadium in Karachi until March 7 and the following 10 league games and four playoff matches are scheduled for Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Just IN: PSL 2021 Postponed With Immediate Effect After Rise In Covid-19 Cases
Karachi vs Lahore (PSL)

But all this preparation went to waste as three players- Fawad Ahmed, Tom Banton (who revealed his positive test publicly on Wednesday) and another Islamabad United player – and one support staff member with the Karachi Kings (Kamran Khan) testing positive for Covid-19 have led to concerns.

Constant Breaches Of Bio-Bubble Reported By Players And Family Of Players

Now only the positive cases, there were breaches also reported of the bio-bubble prepared by the PCB. Peshawar Zalmi’s Wahab Riaz and Daren Sammy had met their franchise owner, who was not part of the bubble.

Read More  ICC delegation not happy with PCB's arrangement for Champions Trophy 2025? Dark clouds loom large after fresh update from Pakistan
Wahab Riaz and Daren Sammy (PSL)
Wahab Riaz and Daren Sammy (PSL)

It was also reported that both Wahab and Sammy reintegrated with the other members of the squad without following the proper bio-secure protocols. Zalmi was allowed this after they refused to take the field against Qalandars without these two players.

Not only this, but players’ families also joined the bubble without spending time in quarantine and proper testing. They were also seen mingling with players in the stands at the National Stadium in Karachi.

PSL 6 Postponed By PCB And Foreign Players Allowed To Go Back

According to details, seven players and one support staff official had tested positive for the virus which led to question marks over PCB’s bio-secure bubble arrangements and reservations from foreign players.

Tom Banton (PSL)
Tom Banton recently tested positive for COVID-19 (PSL)

Following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and wellbeing of all participants is paramount, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to postpone the tournament with immediate effect.

“HBL PSL 6 POSTPONED. PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan, Director – Commercial and Babar Hamid, will hold a media conference at the National Stadium at 3pm to provide further updates,” PCB tweeted while confirming the news

Also Read: My Apologies If This Has Upset Anyone: Dale Steyn Apologizes For His ‘PSL Is More Rewarding Than IPL’ Comment 

Read More  Shaheen Afridi's stint over, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan recommended for Pakistan captaincy by new selection committee