PSL 2021 Was Definitely Not Called Off Because Of Me And Wahab: Darren Sammy

Peshawar Zalmi coach Darren Sammy has responded to the allegations of breaching the bio-bubble protocols during the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League along with Wahab Riaz. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had no choice but to defer the T20 league in March due to a handful of cases emerging within the bio-secure bubble. But, Darren Sammy asserted that he and skipper Wahab Riaz were not responsible for the PSL 2021’s postponement.

At the start of PSL 2021, the duo copped criticism for breaking the bio-secure protocols to meet team owner Javed Afridi during their practice session. According to the rules, the pair had to spend three days in isolation and had to return two negative COVID-19 tests before coming to the bio-secure bubble. Nevertheless, Sammy and Riaz had been allowed to return to the bio-bubble without them abiding by the guidelines. 

The latter also participated in all the fixtures. However, it did not go well with the fans as they lashed out at the PCB for allowing them without completing the protocols. The duo had been under the scanner throughout, even after the event resulted in postponement.

Darren Sammy underlined that he and Wahab Riaz did not break the bio-bubble and revealed that all the news portals held the pair responsible for the postponement. But the former West Indian captain highlighted that they had training and chit-chatted with their boss. And by the time they both realized what had happened, the duo and their boss had to undergo two COVID-19 tests.

“I wouldn’t say we broke the bio-secure bubble. This is new territory for everybody. When I read the news, it made it sound like Wahab and myself left the hotel and ventured out. We just had training and we said hello to our boss (Javed Afridi). By the time we realized what had happened, we had two COVID tests, so did the Boss,” Sammy told in an interview with The Current.

We were negative and none of our players tested positive: Darren Sammy

Darren Sammy further claimed that their reports came out negative, with all the Peshawar Zalmi adhering to the protocols and none of their players testing positive. The seam-bowling all-rounder stressed that PCB did not have to call off the tournament due to the events involving him, Wahab, and their boss.

“We were negative and I could tell you from that day onwards, Peshawar Zalmi was really strict to the books and if you noticed, none of our players tested positive during or after that and the tournament was definitely not called off because of me and Wahab shaking hands with our boss at the cricket ground,” he added.

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