PCB Likely To Host The Remaining Matches Of PSL 2020 In November Despite BCCI's Request To Postpone Them

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly refused to abide by BCCI’s request of postponing the remaining matches of the 2020 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to next year. The apex body of cricket in Pakistan is scheduled to hold those games in November this year. The development arrives after the PSL governing council meeting took place.

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Understandably, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic all over the world has thrown the cricketing calendar in total confusion. Cricketing boards all around the world have had to work round the clock to host matches on the already arranged schedule. In the eighth governing council of the PSL, the board agreed that hosting the pending games in November was a feasible option.

Only the knockout stage of the PSL 2020 edition could be completed while the rest of the matches couldn’t take place due to the COVID-19 crisis. As far as the 2020 tournament of Asia Cup goes, they are planning to host in September/October that would give them a packed calendar in the final months of the year.

A PCB statement said that its franchises agreed to a regular framework of regular contact between the teams and the PSL department relating to various operational and strategic matters.

“The Franchises and PCB agreed to a framework of regular contact between the teams and the PSL Department, aiming to increase consultative dialogue on various operational and strategic matters relating to the league,” a PCB statement said.

PCB chief Ehsan Mani further stated that the franchises expressed determination that they would work together to resolve all conflicts and ensure that all the stakeholders benefit from one of the most followed cricket leagues in the world.

“The PCB and the franchisees expressed determination that they will continue to work together to resolve all pending matters and ensure all parties continue to flourish and benefit from what is now one of the biggest and most followed cricket leagues in the world,” Ehsan Mani stated as quoted by Times Now.

What the BCCI said about Asia Cup and PSL:

A BCCI official opined that holding Asia Cup would be a struggle in the current year as the window of September/October booked by PCB doesn’t suit them. BCCI has a timeline of September-November for staging the Indian Premier League (IPL). Hence, the Indian cricket board suggested the possibility of postponing the PSL to next year to see if they can accomodate the window.

“Asia Cup will be a struggle this year. Going by the statement (to host Asia Cup in September/October and PSL in November) of the Chief Executive of the PCB, the window that suits them doesn’t suit India. Maybe they can postpone PSL next year if BCCI is able to open up a window during that period.

Otherwise conducting the Asia Cup doesn’t seem too practical as these are challenging times. We do not know when the IPL will be taking place, once we get the clarity, we can work around that, as far we are concerned September-October window is still open for the Asia Cup,” the BCCI representative said.

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