Pakistan considering UAE to host remaining PSL matches

iStock (illustration)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering the UAE as a venue to stage the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but the country's COVID-19 body is yet to take a final call.

The PCB's flagship tournament was suspended after 14 games in March after seven individuals, including six players, tested positive for COVID-19.

The governing body had said last month that the PSL would resume on June 1 and the remaining 20 games would take place in Karachi's National Stadium, with the final on June 20.

"Now, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) will announce the decision. If it decides that the league should be resumed, we will bio-secure Karachi and all matches would be played there," a PCB spokesman said.

"If the NCOC does not give the go-ahead to PCB for holding matches in Karachi, we will consult the franchises to hold the rest of the tournament in the UAE."

ESPNCricinfo reported that all six PSL franchises had asked the PCB to move the tournament to the UAE, which also hosted last year's Indian Premier League (IPL).

The lucrative IPL T20 competition was suspended abruptly this week, triggered by a resurgence of the pandemic in India.

More from Sports

  • Sarfaraz named Pakistan's test coach for Bangladesh series

    Pakistan appointed former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as head coach of their test team for the two-match series in Bangladesh next month, the country's cricket board said on Saturday.

  • Coventry promoted to Premier League after 25-year absence

    Coventry City ended their 25-year absence from the Premier League with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, securing promotion from the Championship with three games to spare on Friday.

  • Gujarat sink Kolkata with adaptable bowling in IPL

    Gujarat Titans adapted to conditions to secure a five-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada said, focusing on tight bowling instead of the explosive batting that has been the hallmark of the Indian Premier League.

  • Alcaraz pulls out of Madrid Open for second straight year

    Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Madrid Open for the second consecutive year after withdrawing on Friday with a wrist injury, dealing another blow to the world number two's clay court preparations ahead of his French Open title defence.

  • Injured Djokovic to miss Madrid Open

    Novak Djokovic is still working through the injury problems that forced him to miss recent tournaments in Miami and Monte Carlo and said on Friday that he will not feature at next week's Madrid Open, one of the last stops before the French Open.

News