"We have already warned": Mohsin Naqvi and PCB gets terror threat ahead of PSL 2026

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a surprising decision for the upcoming Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026) following the death threats to all the overseas stars.

The upcoming Pakistan Super League season is scheduled to kick off on March 26 with the final scheduled for May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Big names like Steve Smith, David Warner set to play in PSL 2026 but now face uncertainty

The season opener will be played between the Lahore Qalandars and the Hyderabad Kingsmen in Lahore. International stars like Steve Smith, David Warner, Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Tabraiz Shamsi, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Nahid Rana, Sikandar Raza, Moeen Ali, and Shamar Joseph are set to play in the PSL 2026.

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However, they might now reconsider their decision to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming PSL 2026. But the cricket boards like the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), New Zealand Cricket (NZC), and Cricket Australia (CA) remain silent on the matter with no official decision taken yet.

There will be no crowds: Mohsin Naqvi confirms

Actually, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed that all matches of the upcoming Pakistan Super League season will be played without fans for safety concerns and the ongoing fuel shortage.

Earlier, the PSL 2026 matches were planned in Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi, but now the tournament will happen only in Karachi and Lahore. Not just that, even the opening ceremony has been cancelled following the safety threats.

Mohsin Naqvi cited safety and travel problems as the reasons behind cancelling the opening ceremony. The PCB boss has noted that a fuel shortage will make it hard for fans to travel, so they decided to limit movement. However, there is no change in the fixtures.

Naqvi said at the press conference as quoted by CREX, “PSL is our international brand. There are many international players involved. We cannot cancel the tournament. We have decided to go on with the tournament. It will start on March 26. It wouldn't be easy to host 25000-30000 people. Until and unless the crisis ends, there will be no crowds.”

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Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan linked group issues serious warning to overseas players

Meanwhile, a commander linked to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and its faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has reportedly confirmed that a warning has been sent to foreign players signed for the PSL 2026.

The group has asked the international cricket boards to avoid sending their players to Pakistan for the tournament, as if anything happens to them, that would not be their fault following the warning.

The commander said, as quoted by The Sunday Guardian: “We want to advise the relevant cricket boards not to send their players to Pakistan. If something happens to them, it will not be our responsibility. We have already warned.”

The group also made it clear that they will not allow the tournament to happen in Pakistan. He said, “We will do whatever is in our capacity, but we will not let the match happen. Yes, we will do our best to ensure that the matches do not happen and the players do not play.”