PSL 9 In Jeopardy As Franchise Express Concerns Over Schedule Delay And Venue Finalization

The PSL franchises are expressing major concerns as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) considers two potential schedules for the ninth edition of the league. The PCB has yet to finalize venues for the upcoming tournament, which is expected to commence in February.

The delay in finalizing the schedule for the upcoming PSL is due to the upcoming general elections in Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board is considering relocating the competition to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but a decision on the matter is yet to be made.

UAE To Host A Few Matches Of The PSL 2024 – Reports

The PCB is leaning towards collaborative decision-making with franchises instead of unilateral choices. The board has sought guidance from the government. The governing council of the PSL has sent a letter to determine the dates and venues for the tournament.

As per reports, the proposed schedules for the ninth edition of the PSL include matches in Pakistani cities such as Lahore, Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. Additionally, an alternate schedule has been suggested, featuring a few matches in the United Arab Emirates.

Javed Afridi Wants To Host A Few PSL Matches In Peshawar

Javed Afridi, the owner of Zalmi, has communicated his desire for Peshawar to host several matches in the PSL 9. He conveyed this aspiration to the PCB through an email outlining his proposal. Afridi cited Peshawar’s cricket enthusiasm and the potential to engage fans.

The tentative schedule for the mega tournament is set to commence on February 8. The final match of the tournament is likely to be played in Karachi on March 19. Finalizing the dates and venues of the matches is crucial for completing broadcast and production deals.

According to the Cricket Pakistan report, foreign cricketers are pushing for PSL matches to be held in the UAE. However, franchise owners have not yet reached a consensus on this issue, as some are in favor of holding matches in Pakistan, while others see the UAE as a more secure option. The decision on the venue is still pending.

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