PSL 2021 Likely To Be Postponed Further; PCB Waiting For "Clarifications" From Abu Dhabi Government

The remainder of the PSL 2021, which was set to resume in June, is likely to get postponed further if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) doesn’t get “clarifications” from the Abu Dhabi government by Thursday.

The sixth edition of the PSL was suspended mid-way in early March because of a Covid-19 outbreak among players and support staff. The PCB was then set to host the remaining 20 matches in Karachi in June.

Following the surge of the covid-19 cases in Pakistan – and also learning from their previous mistake as well as observing the suspension of IPL 2021 in India – the PCB decided to move the tournament to the UAE, where the BCCI conducted the IPL last year.

If no clarity by Thursday, PCB has no other option but to postpone PSL

However, the move to the UAE came with its challenges. Apart from the logistical task, which the PCB has organized, the Abu Dhabi government has put forward the condition that every member involved in the PSL – from players, officials, broadcast and production personnel – would be needed to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

This has created an issue for the board as several players and other people flying from various continues have different vaccination programs. Hence, the PCB, headed by the chief executive, Wasim Khan, is waiting for more information, and if they don’t receive it by Thursday, the PCB is likely to defer the season further.

“In today’s online discussion, we updated the team owners that the PCB had been advised that the PSL had received approvals from the relevant authorities in the UAE. However, some clarifications on certain exemption requests are still awaited, which are expected at some stage on Thursday,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive, said after the meeting.

“The team owners agreed that if we do not receive clarity by Thursday afternoon, then they’ll have no other option but to request postponement of the remaining 20 matches,” he revealed.

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