PSL owner targets India, takes indirect dig at IPL after US-Iran ceasefire
Amid PCB's measures that have led to closed-door contests in the PSL, Islamabad United owner has provided a new dimension of explanation, claiming that Pakistan was busy delivering global peace and considered it more crucial than allowing fans to stadiums.
On several previous instances, the Pakistan Super League has witnessed shocking scenes. The infamous scenes from the PSL 2024 final marked empty stands during the final match of the season, which should have had a packed crowd, as often seen in other franchise leagues like the IPL or the SA20.
Mohsin Naqvi and the PCB's former claims of elevating the PSL to a whole new level from 2026 were ruined when they announced that the matches would be played in only two venues, ruling out the other possible cities. He had further declared these matches to be played without any crowd, and people could watch the matches on their screens from their homes.
Islamabad United owner seeks massive credit as he links empty PSL stands to Global peace
The PSL is being played behind closed doors; this is known to all. However, the no-crowd policy of the Pakistan Cricket Board has been given new colours by the owners of one of the participating franchises.
The Islamabad United owner, Ali Naqvi, has linked this policy to the country's involvement in the ceasefire discussions between the United States and Iran, a war that has led to large-scale implications in the Middle East and, as a result, in other associated nations.
He suggested that Pakistan consider helping the global cause more than allowing fans into the stadiums. He further mentioned that Rawalpindi was not chosen as a venue, as Islamabad was considered for the talks, and they wanted to keep flexibility in logistics.
Dear @thePSLt20 fans,
— Ali Naqvi (@AliNaqvi808) April 8, 2026
The latest announcements on the Iran ceasefire and Pakistan’s pivotal role in it finally explain why crowds were not allowed in the stadiums this season.
Not hosting matches in Pindi makes complete sense — Islamabad was clearly the chosen venue for…
Ali Naqvi contradicted the former claims from PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi about the PSL
However, his latest explanation has contradicted the former stance of the PCB, which they announced while announcing this closed-door policy. The PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi had then mentioned that this was an initiative taken due to the fuel crisis in the country.
He had claimed that it was the decision made by the Pakistan PM, as the travelling of so many people would lead to a major dip in the fuel reserves in the nation. Pakistan's fuel prices have increased to an all-time high, and the government has been facing some sharp criticism for the same.
However, his statements seem like a direct dig at the global competitor IPL, as he claimed that those nations that have backed leagues with stadiums filled with people have not faced similar regional tensions as Pakistan.
From Fuel Shortage to Foreign Policy: Explanation Turns Into Exaggeration
While the framing of the entire incident to their advantage was a carefully planned move from the PSL franchise owner, his intentions would not serve justice to the nation's motive to rise as a global peace-loving front.
Though it seems correct that a high-level diplomatic visit to a nation would lead to security measures being elevated, fans not being allowed to watch matches in a stadium for such reasons seems too lame based on logic.
By making a minor fuel shortage issue into a claim of delivering global peace, it looked like a good effort to grab attention, but this has clearly sounded more like propaganda than any explanation for a matter that was formerly thoroughly explained by the PCB Chief.
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