PSL 2021 Likely To Resume On June 5 After Approval From Abu Dhabi Government

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 is likely to resume on June 5, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) secured the approvals and exemptions from the Abu Dhabi government on Thursday.

The PSL 2021, which is the sixth edition of the tournament, was suspended in early March following the covid-19 outbreak in players and support staff; 14 games out of the scheduled 34 had been played before the postponement of the season.

The PCB had then charted out plans to conduct it in Karachi in June. However, with a surge in covid cases in the city, the board and the franchises decided to take the tournament to the UAE.

However, until Thursday, it seemed that the board would have to postpone the re-scheduled tournament as well – that it had to do as originally the PSL was about to resume on June 1, however, PCB won’t fret much for the June 5 date as well.

The final was originally planned for June 20, for the June 2 resumption, will be intact as on June 23 the Pakistan team has to leave for their tour of England.

According to the website ‘Cricket Pakistan,’ the order of matches remains the same as it was previously planned, but the double-headers will be increased.

Islamabad United will take on Lahore Qalandars on June 5; defending champions Karachi Kings will face Multan Sultans the next day. 5 double-headers are planned from June 7.

Three hotels have been booked with two teams staying at each hotel, approved by the safety management firm Restrata, which has been hired by the PCB to operate the bio-bubble.

Restrata is the same firm that the BCCI hired last year for IPL 2020 in the UAE. The BCCI didn’t rope in Restrata for IPL 2021, which was suspended earlier in May after covid-19 cases in four franchises. In case of any positive cases within a team, only two franchises will be quarantined, at the same time, while the rest can continue playing the tournament.

PSL 2021 covid-19 testing itinerary:

May 22: Covid-19 test of players

May 24: Teams report in bio-secure hotels of Karachi and Lahore, where players will be tested for Covid-19 and vaccinated

May 25: Covid-19 test

May 26: Departure for Abu Dhabi via chartered flights and Covid-19 test at Airport

May 27 and 29: Covid-19 Test

June 1: End of quarantine and start of training if players return negative Covid-19 results

June 2-4: Training period

June 4: Covid-19 test

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