Picture Credit: Twitter/@thePSLt20
The rescheduled Pakistan Super League was all set to commence on June 1 in Karachi in Pakistan. However, with a slight increase in the number of daily coronavirus cases and with the positivity rate likely to go up following the end of Eid holidays, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were in talks with the Emirates Cricket Board and local government authorities to move the tournament to the United Arab Emirates. But since a travel ban was imposed by the UAE government on passengers from Pakistan, it seemed unlikely that the event would go ahead in UAE.
However, it is now being understood that the PCB has got the required clearance from the Abu Dhabi government to host the remaining PSL matches there. But a necessary conditions needs to be fulfilled which is everyone involved in the conduct of the T20 tournament must be vaccinated against COVID-19. The news comes as a massive development and there might even be a further reshuffling of matches if the tournament is moved out of Pakistan.
PCB focusing on operational aspect on the league
With the PCB getting green signal to host the matches in Abu Dhabi, the board is now looking at the operational aspect of the league. With the regular flights banned, it will have to look at an alternatives to get the players and officials to the gulf nation where they will face a mandatory quarantine.
Meanwhile, former ICC President and Pakistan skipper Zaheer Abbas has advised PCB to be careful with regards to holding remaining PSL matches.
"Remaining PSL matches should only be conducted if the COVID-19 situation is under control. If not, then the league should be postponed. India also had to postpone the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to worsening COVID-19 situation, which is why we should be careful as well," he stated as quoted by Pakistani media.